< Song of Solomon 2 >

1 I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.—
I am a crocus of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
2 Like the lily among the thorns, so is my beloved among the young maidens.—
As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
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.
As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting-house, and his banner over me was love.
He brought me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me was love.
5 Strengthen me with flagons of wine, refresh me with apples; for sick of love am I.
Strengthen 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. His right hand 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].—
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, or by the does of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
8 The voice of my friend! behold, there he cometh, leaping over the mountains, skipping over the hills.
The voice of my beloved. Look, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on 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 deer. Look, he stands behind our wall. He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
10 My friend commenced, and said unto me, Rise thee up, my beloved, my fair one, and come along.
My beloved spoke, and said to me, "Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
11 For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone its way.
For, look, 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 appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove 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 her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away."
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.—
My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face 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 spoil the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.
16 My friend is mine, and I am his—that feedeth among the lilies.
My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses 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.
Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.

< Song of Solomon 2 >