Song of Solomon 2

Young Woman

¹I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain,^a

the lily of the valley.

Young Man

²Like a lily among thistles

is my darling among young women.

Young Woman

³Like the finest apple tree in the orchard

is my lover among other young men.

I sit in his delightful shade

and taste his delicious fruit.

⁴He escorts me to the banquet hall;

it’s obvious how much he loves me.

⁵Strengthen me with raisin cakes,

refresh me with apples,

for I am weak with love.

⁶His left arm is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me.

⁷Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles and wild deer,

not to awaken love until the time is right.^b

⁸Ah, I hear my lover coming!

He is leaping over the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

⁹My lover is like a swift gazelle

or a young stag.

Look, there he is behind the wall,

looking through the window,

peering into the room.

¹⁰My lover said to me,

“Rise up, my darling!

Come away with me, my fair one!

¹¹Look, the winter is past,

and the rains are over and gone.

¹²The flowers are springing up,

the season of singing birds^c has come,

and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.

¹³The fig trees are forming young fruit,

and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming.

Rise up, my darling!

Come away with me, my fair one!”

Young Man

¹⁴My dove is hiding behind the rocks,

behind an outcrop on the cliff.

Let me see your face;

let me hear your voice.

For your voice is pleasant,

and your face is lovely.

Young Women of Jerusalem

¹⁵Catch all the foxes,

those little foxes,

before they ruin the vineyard of love,

for the grapevines are blossoming!

Young Woman

¹⁶My lover is mine, and I am his.

He browses among the lilies.

¹⁷Before the dawn breezes blow

and the night shadows flee,

return to me, my love, like a gazelle

or a young stag on the rugged mountains.^d