1 I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. The Beloved

2 L ike a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. The Shulamite

3 L ike an apple tree among the trees of the woods, So is my beloved among the sons. I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. The Shulamite to the Daughters of Jerusalem

4 H e brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love.

5 S ustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick.

6 H is left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.

7 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. The Beloved’s Request The Shulamite

8 T he voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills.

9 M y beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he stands behind our wall; He is looking through the windows, Gazing through the lattice.

10 M y beloved spoke, and said to me: “Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.

11 F or lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone.

12 T he flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land.

13 T he fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away!

14 “ O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” Her Brothers

15 C atch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. The Shulamite

16 M y beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. (To Her Beloved)

17 U ntil the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.