1
Naingia bustanini mwangu, umbu langu, bibi arusi, Nachuma manemane yangu na rihani, Nala sega la asali na asali yangu, Nanywa divai yangu na maziwa. Kaleni, rafiki zangu, kanyweni, Naam, nyweni sana, wapendwa wangu.
I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, and drink; drink freely, O beloved.
2
Nalikuwa nimelala, lakini moyo wangu u macho, Sikiliza! Mpendwa wangu anabisha! Nifungulie, umbu langu, mpenzi wangu, Hua wangu, mkamilifu wangu, Kwa maana kichwa changu kimelowa umande, Nywele zangu zina manyunyu ya usiku.
I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.”
3
Nimeivua kanzu yangu; niivaeje? Nimeitawadha miguu; niichafueje?
I have taken off my robe—must I put it back on? I have washed my feet—must I soil them again?
4
Mpendwa wangu aliutia mkono wake tunduni, Na moyo wangu ukachomeka kwa ajili yake.
My beloved put his hand to the latch; my heart pounded for him.
5
Nikaondoka nimfungulie mpendwa wangu; Mikono yangu ilidondoza manemane, Na vidole vyangu matone ya manemane, Penye vipini vya komeo.
I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.
6
Nalimfungulia mpendwa wangu, Lakini mpendwa wangu amegeuka amepita; (Nimezimia nafsi yangu aliponena), Nikamtafuta, nisimpate, Nikamwita, asiniitikie.
I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer.
7
Walinzi wazungukao mjini waliniona, Wakanipiga na kunitia jeraha, Walinzi walindao kuta zake Wakaninyang'anya shela yangu.
I encountered the watchmen on their rounds of the city. They beat me and bruised me; they took away my cloak, those guardians of the walls.
8
Nawasihi, enyi binti za Yerusalemu, Ninyi mkimwona mpendwa wangu, Ni nini mtakayomwambia? Ya kwamba nazimia kwa mapenzi.
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you, if you find my beloved, tell him I am sick with love.
9
Mpendwa wa namna gani ni mpendwa wako, Wewe uliye mzuri katika wanawake, Mpendwa wa namna gani ni mpendwa wako, Hata wewe utusihi hivyo?
How is your beloved better than others, O most beautiful among women? How is your beloved better than another, that you charge us so?
10
Mpendwa wangu ni mweupe, tena mwekundu, Mashuhuri miongoni mwa elfu kumi;
My beloved is dazzling and ruddy, outstanding among ten thousand.
11
Kichwa chake ni kama dhahabu safi sana, Nywele zake ni za ukoka, nyeusi kama kunguru;
His head is purest gold; his hair is wavy and black as a raven.
12
Macho yake ni kama hua penye vijito, Wakioga kwa maziwa, wakiikalia mito iliyojaa;
His eyes are like doves beside the streams of water, bathed in milk and mounted like jewels.
13
Mashavu yake ni kama matuta ya rihani, Ambayo hufanyizwa manukato; Midomo yake ni kama nyinyoro, Inadondoza matone ya manemane;
His cheeks are like beds of spice, towers of perfume. His lips are like lilies, dripping with flowing myrrh.
14
Mikono yake ni kama mianzi ya dhahabu, lliyopambwa kwa zabarajadi; Kiwiliwili chake kama kazi ya pembe, Iliyonakishiwa kwa yakuti samawi;
His arms are rods of gold set with beryl. His body is polished ivory bedecked with sapphires.
15
Miguu yake ni kama nguzo za marimari, Zilizowekwa juu ya misingi ya dhahabu; Sura yake ni kama Lebanoni, Ni bora mfano wa mierezi;
His legs are pillars of marble set on bases of pure gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, as majestic as the cedars.
16
Kinywa chake kimejaa maneno matamu, Ndiye mzuri sana pia pia. Ni huyu mpendwa wangu, ni huyu rafiki yangu, Enyi binti za Yerusalemu.
His mouth is most sweet; he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.