Song of Solomon 2

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

1The young woman says, "I am a rose from the plain of Sharon. I am a lily from the valleys."

2As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

2The man says, "Other young women are like thorns. My darling is like a lily among them."

3As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

3The young woman says, "Other young men are like plain trees in the woods. The man I love is like a fruit tree among them. I sat down in his shade. I was very happy there. His fruit tasted sweet to me."

4He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.

4"He brought me to the house where wine is served. He held his love over me like a flag for all to see."

5Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.

5"Give me raisin cakes to make me strong. Give me apples to help me. I feel weak because I love him so much."

Note"Flagons" here means cakes made of pressed raisins, a food that gave quick strength. "Sick of love" does not mean tired of love. It means feeling weak and faint because she loves him so much.

6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.

6"His left arm is under my head. His right arm holds me close."

7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please.

7"Women of Jerusalem, I ask you this. By the gazelles and the deer in the fields, promise me. Do not wake love up. Let it wait until the right time."

8The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

8"I hear the man I love! Look, here he comes! He is jumping over the mountains. He is skipping over the hills."

9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

9"The man I love runs like a gazelle or a young deer. Look, he is standing behind our wall. He is looking in through the windows. He peeks through the wooden screen."

10My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

10"The man I love spoke to me. He said, 'Get up, my darling. You are beautiful. Come away with me.'"

11For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

11"'Look, the winter is over. The rainy time has ended and gone away.'"

12The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

12"'Flowers are coming up all over the ground. It is time for singing again. We can hear the doves cooing in our land.'"

NoteThe King James Bible says "the voice of the turtle." This is not a turtle. It means a turtledove, a bird that makes a soft cooing sound.

13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

13"'The fig tree is growing its young figs. The grape vines are in bloom and smell sweet. Get up, my darling. You are beautiful. Come away with me.'"

14O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

14"'My dove, you hide in the cracks of the rock. You hide in the secret spots on the cliff. Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice. Your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.'"

Note"Countenance" is an old word for a person's face. "Comely" means lovely to look at.

15Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

15"Catch the foxes for us. Catch the little foxes. They spoil the grape vines. Our vines have young grapes on them."

16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.

16"The man I love is mine, and I am his. He feeds his sheep among the lilies."

17Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.

17"Come back before the sun comes up. Come back before the shadows go away. Run to me like a gazelle or a young deer. Run over the mountains of Bether."