1 I am only a little rose or autumn crocus of the plain of Sharon, or a lily of the valleys.

2 B ut Solomon replied, Like the lily among thorns, so are you, my love, among the daughters.

3 L ike an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons! Under his shadow I delighted to sit, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

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

5 S ustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.

6 h is left hand under my head and his right hand embraces me!

7 I charge you, O you daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the hinds of the field that you not try to stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

8 T he voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9 M y beloved is like a gazelle or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind the wall of our house, he looks in through the windows, he glances through the lattice.

10 M y beloved speaks and says to me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

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

12 T he flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

13 T he fig tree puts forth and ripens her green figs, and the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

14 O my dove, in the seclusion of the clefts in the solid rock, in the sheltered and secret place of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

15 T ake for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom.

16 M y beloved is mine and I am his! He pastures his flocks among the lilies.

17 U ntil the day breaks and the shadows flee away, return hastily, O my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart as you cover the mountains.