2 I am a rose p q of Sharon,

a lily r of the valleys. s

M 2 Like a lily among thorns,

so is my darling among the young women.

W 3 Like an apricot t tree among the trees of the forest,

so is my love among the young men.

I delight to sit in his shade,

and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4 He brought me to the banquet hall, u v

and he looked on me with love. w x

5 Sustain me with raisins;

refresh me with apricots, y

for I am lovesick. z

6 His left hand is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me. a b

7 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you

by the gazelles and the wild does of the field:

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time. c d

8 Listen! My love is approaching.

Look! Here he comes,

leaping over the mountains, e

bounding over the hills.

9 My love is like a gazelle

or a young stag. f

Look, he is standing behind our wall,

gazing through the windows,

peering through the lattice.

10 My love calls to me:

M Arise, g my darling.

Come away, my beautiful one.

11 For now the winter is past;

the rain has ended and gone away.

12 The blossoms appear in the countryside.

The time of singing h has come,

and the turtledove’s cooing is heard in our land. i

13 The fig tree ripens its figs; j

the blossoming vines give off their fragrance. k

Arise, my darling.

Come away, my beautiful one.

14 My dove, l in the clefts of the rock, m

in the crevices of the cliff,

let me see your face, n

let me hear your voice; o

for your voice is sweet,

and your face is lovely. p

(W) 15 Catch the foxes for us q—

the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—

for our vineyards are in bloom. r

W 16 My love is mine and I am his; s

he feeds among the lilies.

17 Before the day breaks t

and the shadows flee,

turn to me, my love, and be like a gazelle

or a young stag u on the divided mountains. v w