1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. |
2 THE BELOVED Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. |
3 THE SHULAMITE Like 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. |
4 THE SHULAMITE TO THE DAUGHTERS OF JERUSALEM He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. |
5 Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick. |
6 His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. |
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. |
8 THE SHULAMITE The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills. |
9 My 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. |
10 My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. |
11 For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. |
12 The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. |
13 The 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! |
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." |
15 HER BROTHERS Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. |
16 THE SHULAMITE My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. |
17 (TO HER BELOVED) Until 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. |