< Song of Solomon 2 >
1 Bride: I am a flower of the open field and a lily of the steep valleys.
As a lily among the thorns,
2 Groom: Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the daughters.
So [is] my friend among the daughters!
3 Bride to Chorus: Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat beneath the shadow of the one whom I desired, and his fruit was sweet to my palate.
As a citron among trees of the forest, So [is] my beloved among the sons, In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit [is] sweet to my palate.
4 He brought me into the storeroom of wine. He set charity in order within me.
He hath brought me in unto a house of wine, And his banner over me [is] love,
5 Prop me up with flowers. Close me in with apples. For I languish through love.
Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I [am] sick with love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.
His left hand [is] under my head, And his right doth embrace me.
7 Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, even for as long as she wills.
I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!
8 Bride to Chorus: The voice of my beloved! Behold, he arrives leaping along the mountains, jumping across the hills.
The voice of my beloved! lo, this — he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
9 My beloved is like a doe and like a young stag. Lo, he stands beyond our wall, gazing through the windows, watching through the lattices.
My beloved [is] like to a roe, Or to a young one of the harts. Lo, this — he is standing behind our wall, Looking from the windows, Blooming from the lattice.
10 Lo, my beloved speaks to me: Groom to Bride: Rise up, quickly, my love, my dove, my shapely one, and advance.
My beloved hath answered and said to me, 'Rise up, my friend, my fair one, and come away,
11 For winter has now past; the rain has decreased and gone away.
For lo, the winter hath passed by, The rain hath passed away — it hath gone.
12 The flowers have appeared in our land; the time for pruning has arrived. The voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
The flowers have appeared in the earth, The time of the singing hath come, And the voice of the turtle was heard in our land,
13 The fig tree has brought forth its green figs; the flowering vines bestow their odor. Rise up, my love, my brilliant one, and advance.
The fig-tree hath ripened her green figs, And the sweet-smelling vines have given forth fragrance, Rise, come, my friend, my fair one, yea, come away.
14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollows of the wall, reveal to me your face. Let your voice sound in my ears. For your voice is sweet, and your face is graceful.
My dove, in clefts of the rock, In a secret place of the ascent, Cause me to see thine appearance, Cause me to hear thy voice, For thy voice [is] sweet, and thy appearance comely.
15 Chorus to Groom and Bride: Capture for us the little foxes, which are tearing down the vines; for our vineyard has flourished.
Seize ye for us foxes, Little foxes — destroyers of vineyards, Even our sweet-smelling vineyards.
16 Bride to Chorus: My beloved is for me, and I am for him. He pastures among the lilies,
My beloved [is] mine, and I [am] his, Who is delighting among the lilies,
17 until the day rises and the shadows decline. Bride to Groom: Return, O my beloved. Be like a doe and like a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.
Till the day doth break forth, And the shadows have fled away, Turn, be like, my beloved, To a roe, or to a young one of the harts, On the mountains of separation!