< Song of Solomon 2 >

1 I am a meadow flower of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the young women.
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
3 As an apricot tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I sit down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.
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, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me was love.
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5 Revive me with raisin cakes and refresh me with apricots, for I am weak with love.
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand does embrace me.
7 I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and the does of the fields, that you will not awaken or arouse love until she pleases.
I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that you stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.
8 There is the sound of my beloved! Listen, here he comes, leaping over the mountains, jumping over the hills.
The voice of my beloved! behold, he comes leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag; look, he is standing behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice.
My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he stands behind our wall, he looks forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice.
10 My beloved spoke to me and said, “Arise, my love; My beautiful one, come away with me.
My beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 Look, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.
For, see, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12 The flowers have appeared in the land; the time for pruning and the singing of birds has come, and the sound of the doves is heard in our land.
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;
13 The fig tree ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give off their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
The fig tree puts forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
14 My dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the secret clefts of the mountain crags, let me see your face. Let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.”
O my dove, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see your countenance, let me hear your voice; for sweet is your voice, and your countenance is comely.
15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil vineyards, for our vineyard is in blossom.
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16 My beloved is mine, and I am his; he grazes among the lilies with pleasure.
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feeds among the lilies.
17 Go away, my beloved, before the soft winds of dawn blow and the shadows flee away. Go away; be like a gazelle or a young stag on the rugged mountains.
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be you like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether.

< Song of Solomon 2 >