1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. |
2 Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the maidens. |
3 Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my lover among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. |
4 He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. |
5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. |
6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. |
7 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. |
8 Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. |
9 My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. |
10 My lover spoke and said to me, "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come with me. |
11 See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. |
12 Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land. |
13 The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me." |
14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. |
15 Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. |
16 My lover is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies. |
17 Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills. |