“I have perfumed my bed with myrrh”: “Perfumed” is literally “sprinkled.” “Myrrh” is a gum that comes from a bush or shrub in Arabia and India and has a pleasant, scented odor.

“Aloes and cinnamon”: The term “aloes” refers to a fragrant wood used also as a perfume. “Cinnamon” is taken from the inner bark of an evergreen tree. It was used both as a spice and as a perfume. In translation we may say, for example, “I have put perfume made from myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon on my bed.” In languages in which these articles are unknown, it may be possible to substitute local materials. If this is not suitable, we may say, for example, “I have perfumed my bed with fragrant odors from the east” or “. . . with sweet odors that are made far away.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .