< Song of Solomon 2 >

1 I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.—
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley.
2 Like the lily among the thorns, so is my beloved among the young maidens.—
Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.
3 Like the apple-tree among the trees of the forest, so is my friend among the young men: under his shadow do I ardently wish to sit, and his fruit is sweet to my palate.
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love.
He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love.
5 Strengthen me with flagons of wine, refresh me with apples; for sick of love am I.
Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 Oh that his left hand might be under my head, and that his right might embrace me.
His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye awaken not, nor excite my love, till it please [to come of itself].—
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
8 The voice of my friend! behold, there he cometh, leaping over the mountains, skipping over the hills.
Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9 My friend is like a roebuck or the fawn of the hinds: behold, there he standeth behind our wall, looking in at the windows, seeing through the lattice.
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10 My friend commenced, and said unto me, Rise thee up, my beloved, my fair one, and come along.
My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one.
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone its way.
For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
12 The flowers are seen in the land; the time of the [birds'] singing is come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land;
The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.
13 The fig-tree perfumeth its green figs, and the vines with young grapes give forth a [pleasant] smell. Arise thee, my beloved, my fair one, and come along.
The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”
14 O my dove, who art in the clefts of the rock, in the recesses of the cliffs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for thy voice is sweet, and thy countenance is comely.—
O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.
15 Seize for us the foxes, the little foxes, that injure the vineyards; for our vineyards have young grapes.
Catch for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards— for our vineyards are in bloom.
16 My friend is mine, and I am his—that feedeth among the lilies.
My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.
17 Until the day become cool, and the shadows flee away, turn about, my friend, and be thou like the roebuck or the fawn of the hinds upon the mountains of separation.
Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

< Song of Solomon 2 >