a lily of the valleys. The Lover 2Like a lily among thorns, so is my darling among the young women. The Loved One 3Like an appleb tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I take delight and sit down, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.c 4He has brought me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. 5Sustain me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples,d for I’m weak with love. 6I wish that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand were embracing me! 7Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the does of the field, that you won’t awaken or arouse love before its proper time!e 8The voice of my beloved! Look! He’s coming, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, gazing through the lattice. The Lover 10My beloved spoke to me: “Get up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come on. 11Look! Winter is past. The rain is over and gone. 12Blossoms have appeared in the land. The season of songbirdsf has arrived, and cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land. 13The fig tree has produced its fruit,g the grapevines have blossomed and exude their fragrance. “Get up, my darling, my beautiful one, and come on. 14My dove, in the hidden places of the rocks, in the secret places of the cliffs, show me your form, and let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your shape is lovely. 15Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that destroy the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” The Loved One 16My beloved belongs to me and I belong to him. He is the one who shepherds his flock among the lilies. 17Until the day breaksh and the shadows flee, turn around, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the rugged mountains.i Footnotes: a 2:1 Or crocus b 2:3 Or apricot c 2:3 Lit. palate d 2:5 Or apricots e 2:7 Lit. until it pleases f 2:12 Or for pruning g 2:13 Lit. has ripened h 2:17 Or until the cool of the day; lit. until the day breathes i 2:17 Or the mountains of Bether The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Bible Hub |