2
1 I am a rose on the plain of Sharon,* rose … Sharon Or “a crocus on the plain.”
a lily† lily A kind of flower. Here, it is probably a red flower. in the valleys.
He Speaks
2 My darling, among other women,
you are like a lily among thorns!
She Speaks
3 My lover, among other men,
you are an apple tree among the wild trees in the forest!
She Speaks to the Women
I enjoy sitting in my lover’s shadow;
his fruit is so sweet to my taste.
4 My lover took me to the wine house;
his intent toward me was love.
5 Strengthen me with raisins‡ raisins Or “raisin cakes.”;
refresh me with apples, because I am weak with love.§ I am weak with love Or “I am lovesick.”
6 My lover’s left arm is under my head,
and his right arm holds me.
7 Women of Jerusalem, promise me by the gazelles and wild deer,
don’t awaken love,
don’t arouse love, until I am ready.* until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.”
She Speaks Again
8 I hear my lover’s voice.
Here it comes, jumping over the mountains,
skipping over the hills.
9 My lover is like a gazelle
or a young deer.
Look at him standing behind our wall,
staring out the window,
looking through the lattice.† lattice A wooden screen over a window.
10 My lover speaks to me,
“Get up, my darling, my beautiful one.
Let’s go away!
11 Look, winter is past,
the rains have come and gone.
12 The flowers are blooming in the fields.
It’s time to sing!‡ sing Or “prune.”
Listen, the doves have returned.
13 Young figs are growing on the fig trees.
Smell the vines in bloom.
Get up, my darling, my beautiful one.
Let’s go away!”
He Speaks
14 My dove, hiding in the caves high on the cliff,
hidden here on the mountain,
let me see you,
let me hear your voice.
Your voice is so pleasant,
and you are so beautiful!
She Speaks to the Women
15 Catch the foxes for us—
the little foxes
that spoil the vineyard.
Our vineyard is now in bloom.
16 My lover is mine,
and I am his!
My lover feeds among the lilies,
17 while the day breathes its last breath
and the shadows run away.
Turn, my lover,
be like a gazelle or a young deer on the cleft mountains!§ the cleft mountains Or “the mountains of Bether” or “the mountains of spice.”
*2:1 rose … Sharon Or “a crocus on the plain.”
†2:1 lily A kind of flower. Here, it is probably a red flower.
‡2:5 raisins Or “raisin cakes.”
§2:5 I am weak with love Or “I am lovesick.”
*2:7 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.”
†2:9 lattice A wooden screen over a window.
‡2:12 sing Or “prune.”
§2:17 the cleft mountains Or “the mountains of Bether” or “the mountains of spice.”