1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover

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

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

“ 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, 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 banquet hall. His banner over me is love.

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

5 S trengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am faint with love.

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

6 H is left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.

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

7 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

“ 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 comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on 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 deer. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances 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 spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

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

11 F or, behold, 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 has come, and the voice of the turtledove 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 ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give out their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.” Lover

‘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 M y dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.

“ 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 C atch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved

“ 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 browses among the lilies.

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

17 U ntil the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young deer on 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.”