2:1 | The Beloved to Her Lover: I am a* meadow flower* from Sharon,* a lily* from the valleys. |
2:2 | The Lover to His Beloved: Like* a lily among the thorns,* so is my darling among the maidens. |
2:3 | The Beloved about Her Lover: Like* an apple tree* among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I delight* to sit* in his shade,* and his fruit* is sweet* to my taste.* |
2:4 | The Beloved about Her Lover: He brought me* into the banquet hall,* and he looked* at me lovingly.* |
2:5 | Sustain* me with raisin cakes,* refresh me with apples,* for I am faint with love.* The Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration |
2:6 | His left hand caresses my head,* and his right hand stimulates me.* |
2:7 | The Beloved to the Maidens: I adjure you,* O maidens of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and by the young does* of the open fields:* Do not awaken or arouse* love* until it pleases!* |
2:8 | The Beloved about Her Lover: Listen!* My lover is approaching!* Look!* Here he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills! |
2:9 | My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag.* Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the window, peering through the lattice. |
2:10 | The Lover to His Beloved: My lover spoke to me, saying: “Arise, my darling; My beautiful one, come away with me! |
2:11 | Look! The winter has passed, the winter rains are over and gone. |
2:12 | The pomegranates have appeared* in the land, the time for pruning and singing* has come; the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. |
2:13 | The fig tree has budded, the vines have blossomed and give off their fragrance. Arise, come away my darling; my beautiful one, come away with me!” |
2:14 | The Lover to His Beloved: O my dove,* in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places of the mountain crags, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. |
2:15 | The Beloved to Her Lover: Catch* the foxes* for us, the little foxes,* that ruin the vineyards* – for our vineyard is in bloom. |
2:16 | The Beloved about Her Lover: My lover is mine and I am his; he grazes among the lilies.* |
2:17 | The Beloved to Her Lover: Until the dawn arrives* and the shadows flee, turn,* my beloved – be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountain gorges.* |