Song of Solomon 2

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

Bride: I am a flower of the open field and a lily of the steep valleys.

2 As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Groom: Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the daughters.

3 As 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.

Bride to Chorus: Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat beneath the shadow of the one whom I desired, and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

4 He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.

He brought me into the storeroom of wine. He set charity in order within me.

5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am faint with love.

Prop me up with flowers. Close me in with apples. For I languish through love.

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

His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall 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.

Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, even for as long as she wills.

8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.

Bride to Chorus: The voice of my beloved! Behold, he arrives leaping along the mountains, jumping across the hills.

9 My 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 doe and like a young stag. Lo, he stands beyond our wall, gazing through the windows, watching through the lattices.

10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, “Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.

Lo, my beloved speaks to me: Groom to Bride: Rise up, quickly, my love, my dove, my shapely one, and advance.

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

For winter has now past; the rain has decreased and gone away.

12 The 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 appeared in our land; the time for pruning has arrived. The voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

13 The 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.”

The fig tree has brought forth its green figs; the flowering vines bestow their odor. Rise up, my love, my brilliant one, and advance.

14 My 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.

My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollows of the wall, reveal to me your face. Let your voice sound in my ears. For your voice is sweet, and your face is graceful.

15 Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that plunder the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom.

Chorus to Groom and Bride: Capture for us the little foxes, which are tearing down the vines; for our vineyard has flourished.

16 My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.

Bride to Chorus: My beloved is for me, and I am for him. He pastures among the lilies,

17 Until 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 day rises and the shadows decline. Bride to Groom: Return, O my beloved. Be like a doe and like a young stag upon the mountains of Bether.