Song of Solomon 2

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

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

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

[[Lov.]] As the lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.

3 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.

[[M.]] As the apple-tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons. In his shadow I love to sit down, And his fruit is sweet to my taste.

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

He hath brought me to his banqueting-house, And his banner over me is love. Strengthen me with raisins,

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

Refresh me with apples! For I am sick with love.

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

His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraceth me!

7 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.

[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles, and by the hinds of the field, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till she please!

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

[[M.]] The voice of my beloved! Behold, he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains, Bounding upon the hills.

9 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.

Like a gazelle is my beloved, Or a young hind. Behold, he standeth behind our wall; He is looking through the windows; He glanceth through the lattice.

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

My beloved speaketh, and saith to me, “Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away!

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

For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone;

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

The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come, And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

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

The fig-tree is spicing its green fruit; The vines in blossom give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!

14 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.

O my dove, that art in the recesses of the rock, In the hiding-places of the steep craggy mountain, Let me see thy face, Let me hear thy voice! For sweet is thy voice, And thy face lovely.”

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

Take ye for us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines; For our vines are now in blossom.

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

My beloved is mine, and I am his; He feedeth among the lilies.

17 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.

When the day breathes, and the shadows flee away, Come again, my beloved, like a gazelle, or a young hind, Upon the craggy mountains.