Song Of Solomon 2

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

I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain,^[a]
    the lily of the valley.

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

Like a lily among thistles
    is my darling among young women.

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.

Like the finest apple tree in the orchard
    is my lover among other young men.
I sit in his delightful shade
    and taste his delicious fruit.

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

He escorts me to the banquet hall;
    it’s obvious how much he loves me.

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

Strengthen me with raisin cakes,
    refresh me with apples,
    for I am weak with love.

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

His left arm is under my head,
    and his right arm embraces me.

I 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.

Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
    by the gazelles and wild deer,
    not to awaken love until the time is right.^[b]

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

Ah, I hear my lover coming!
    He is leaping over the mountains,
    bounding over the hills.

My 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.

My lover is like a swift gazelle
    or a young stag.
Look, there he is behind the wall,
    looking through the window,
    peering into the room.

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

My lover said to me,
    “Rise up, my darling!
    Come away with me, my fair one!

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

Look, the winter is past,
    and the rains are over and gone.

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;

The flowers are springing up,
    the season of singing birds^[c] has come,
    and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

The 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.

The fig trees are forming young fruit,
    and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.
Rise up, my darling!
    Come away with me, my fair one!”

O 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.

My dove is hiding behind the rocks,
    behind an outcrop on the cliff.
Let me see your face;
    let me hear your voice.
For your voice is pleasant,
    and your face is lovely.

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

Catch all the foxes,
    those little foxes,
before they ruin the vineyard of love,
    for the grapevines are blossoming!

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

My lover is mine, and I am his.
    He browses among the lilies.

Until 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.

Before the dawn breezes blow
    and the night shadows flee,
return to me, my love, like a gazelle
    or a young stag on the rugged mountains.^[d]