The Koine Bible

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spices; I have eaten my bread with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, neighbors, and drink, and be drunk, brothers.

I sleep, and my heart keeps watch. The voice of my brother knocks at the door: Open to me, my sister, my neighbor, my dove, my perfect one, for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night.

I have taken off my tunic; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I soil them?

My beloved put out his hand from the opening, and my inward parts were moved because of him.

I arose to open to my beloved; my hands dropped myrrh, my fingers myrrh, full, upon the handles of the bolt

I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had passed by; my soul went out at his word. I sought him, but did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me.

The watchmen who go round the city found me; they struck me, they wounded me; they took my mantle from me, the keepers of the walls.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the powers and by the strengths of the field, if you find my beloved, what shall you tell him? That I am wounded with love.

What is your beloved more than a beloved, O beautiful among women? What is your beloved more than a beloved, that you have so adjured us?

My beloved is white and ruddy, distinguished from myriads.

His head is gold, and his locks are branches of palm, black as a raven.

His eyes are like doves beside full streams of waters, washed in milk, sitting beside full streams of waters

His cheeks are like bowls of perfume, producing aromatic plants; his lips are lilies, dripping myrrh, full.

His hands are rods of gold, filled with tharsis; his belly is an ivory panel upon a sapphire stone.

His legs are marble pillars, founded upon golden bases; his appearance is like Lebanon, chosen as the cedars.

His throat is sweetnesses, and he is altogether desire. This is my beloved, and this is my near one, daughters of Jerusalem.