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¹ I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys. ² Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.

³ Like 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. ⁴ He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love. ⁵ Sustain me with cakes of raisins, Refresh me with apples, For I am lovesick. ⁶ His 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.

⁸ The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes Leaping upon the mountains, Skipping upon the hills. ⁹ My 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 My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. ¹¹ For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. ¹² The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. ¹³ The 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." ¹⁵ Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. ¹⁶ My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. ¹⁷ 17 (To Her Beloved)Until the day breaksAnd the shadows flee away,Turn, my beloved,And be like a gazelleOr a young stagUpon the mountains of Bether. [fn]