The Bride’s Admiration

The Bride

1I am a rose of Sharon, ¹a lily of the valley.

The Bridegroom

2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens.

The Bride

3Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.

4He has brought me to the house of wine, ²and his banner over me is love.

5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples,
for I am faint with love.

6His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

8Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.

9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.

10My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling.
Come away with me, my beautiful one.

11For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.

12The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing ³has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land.

13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.”

The Bridegroom

14O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely.

The Friends

15Catch for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—
for our vineyards are in bloom.

The Bride

16My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.

17Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether. ⁴