Dialogue between Maiden and Her Beloved

1 I am a roseof Sharon,

a lily of the valleys.

2 Like a lily among the thorns,

so is my love among the maidens.

3 As an apple tree among the trees of the forest,

so is my beloved among the young men.

In his shade I sat down with delight,

and his fruit was sweet to my palate.

Banquet Hall of Love

4 He brought me to the house of the wine,

and his intention was love toward me.

5 Sustain me with the raisins,

refresh me with the apples,

for I am lovesick.

Double Refrain: Embrace and Adjuration

6 His left hand is under my head,

and his right hand embracesme.

7 I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem,

by the gazelles or by the does of the field,

do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!

Rendezvous in the Countryside

8 The voice of my beloved!

Look! Here hecomes leaping upon the mountains,

bounding over the hills!

9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag.

Look! He isstanding behind our wall,

gazing throughthe window,

looking throughthe lattice.

10 My beloved answered and said to me,

“Arise,my beloved! Come, my beauty!

11 For look! The winter is over;

the rainy seasonhas turned and gone away.

12 The blossoms appearin the land;

the time of singinghas arrived;

the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.

13 The fig tree puts forth her figs,

and the vines are in blossom; they give fragrance.

Arise,my beloved! Come, my beauty!”

14 My dove, in the clefts of the rock,

in the secluded placein the mountain,

Let me see your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.

15 Catch for us the foxes,

the little foxes destroying vineyards,

forour vineyards are in blossom!

Poetic Refrain(s)

16 My beloved belongs to me and I belong to him;

he pastures his flock among the lilies.

17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee,

turn, my beloved!

Be likea gazelleor young stagon the cleft mountains.