1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. The Beloved

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

2 L ike a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. The Shulamite

“Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the young women.” The Woman

3 L ike an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem

“Like a fruit tree among many trees, so is my loved one among the young men. With much joy I sat down in his shadow. 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 brought me to his special large room for eating, and his colors over me were love.

5 S ustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.

Make me strong with cakes of dried grapes. Make me strong again with fruit, because I am sick with love.

6 H is left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.

Let his left hand be under my head and his right hand hold me close.” King Solomon

7 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. The Beloved’s Request The Shulamite

“I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and deer of the field, you must not wake up my love until it is pleasing to her.” The Second Song The Woman

8 T he voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.

“Listen, it is the voice of my loved one! See, he is coming! He is running over the mountains, jumping across the hills.

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

My love is like a gazelle or a young deer. See, he is standing behind our wall. He is looking through the windows, through the wood cross-pieces.

10 M y beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.

“My love speaks and says to me, ‘Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me.

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

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

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

The flowers are coming through the ground. The time for singing has come. The voice of the turtle-dove has been heard in our land.

13 T he fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!

The fig tree has its fruits. The flowers on the vines spread their sweet smell. Get up, my love, my beautiful one, and come with me!

14 “ O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” Her Brothers

O my dove, hidden in the rock, in the secret place in the mountain-side, let me see you. Let me hear your voice. For your voice is sweet, and you are beautiful.

15 C atch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. The Shulamite

‘Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are destroying our grape-fields, for the flowers are on the vines.

16 M y beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. (To Her Beloved)

My love is mine, and I am his. He lets his flock eat among the lilies.

17 U ntil the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.

Until the morning comes and the shadows hurry away, turn, my love. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of Bether.’”