Song of Solomon 2

1I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

3As 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.footnote afootnote b

4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.footnote c

5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.footnote d

6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.footnote e

8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.footnote f

10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

12The 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;

13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

17Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.footnote g

The Bride’s Admiration

The Bride

1I am a rose of Sharon,footnote aa lily of the valley.

The Bridegroom

2Like a lily among the thornsis my darling among the maidens.

The Bride

3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forestis my beloved among the young men.I delight to sit in his shade,and his fruit is sweet to my taste. 4He has brought me to the house of wine,footnote band his banner over me is love.

5Sustain me with raisins;refresh me with apples,for I am faint with love.

6His left hand is under my head,and his right arm embraces me. 7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure youby the gazelles and does of the field:Do not arouse or awaken loveuntil the time is right.

8Listen! My beloved approaches.Look! Here he comes,leaping across the mountains,bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.Look, he stands behind our wall,gazing through the windows,peering through the lattice.

10My beloved calls to me,“Arise, my darling.Come away with me, my beautiful one. 11For now the winter is past;the rain is over and gone. 12The flowers have appeared in the countryside;the season of singingfootnote chas come,and the cooing of turtledovesis heard in our land. 13The fig tree ripens its figs;the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.Arise, come away, my darling;come away with me, my beautiful one.”

The Bridegroom

14O 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.

The Friends

15Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom.

The Bride

16My beloved is mine and I am his;he pastures his flock among the lilies. 17Before the day breaks and shadows flee,turn, my beloved,and be like a gazelleor a young stag on the mountains of Bether.footnote d