[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 daughters.” [3] “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons. In his shade I had great desire and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. [4] “He has brought me to his house of banqueting, 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 call you to solemnly swear, 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] “The voice of my beloved! Behold, he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, Jumping on the hills! [9] “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall; He gazes through the windows; He is peering through the lattice. [10] “My beloved answered and said to me, ‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, And come along. [11] ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over; it is gone. [12] ‘The flowers have appeared in the land; The time for pruning has arrived; 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 appearance, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your appearance is lovely.” [15] “Seize the foxes for us, The little foxes that are wreaking destruction on the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.” [16] “My beloved is mine, and I am his, He who shepherds his flock among the lilies. [17] “Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle Or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.”
