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

“ I am the rose of Sharon, The lily of the valleys.”

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

“ Like a lily among the thorns, So is my darling among the maidens.”

3 A s 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 an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

4 H e brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

“He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.

5 S tay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

“Sustain me with raisin cakes, Refresh me with apples, Because I am lovesick.

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

“Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.”

7 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.

“ I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field, That you do not arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases.”

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

“ Listen! My beloved! Behold, he is coming, Climbing on the mountains, Leaping on the hills!

9 M y 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 beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is peering through the lattice.

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

“My beloved responded and said to me, ‘ Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along.

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

‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.

12 t he 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 have already appeared in the land; The time has arrived for pruning the vines, And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

13 t he 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 tree has ripened its figs, And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance. Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along!’”

14 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.

“ O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your form, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your form is lovely.”

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

“ Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”

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

“ My beloved is mine, and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies.

17 U ntil 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.

“ Until the cool of the day when the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle Or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.”