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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

17 “ 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.”