2:1 “I am the ①rose of Sharon,
The lily of the valleys.”
▷ ①Lit asphodel
2:2 “Like a lily among the thorns,
So is my darling among the ①young women.”
▷ ①Lit daughters
2:3 “Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest,
So is my beloved among the ①young men.
In his shade I took great delight and sat down,
And his fruit was sweet to my ②taste.
▷ ①Lit sons ②Lit palate
2:4 He has brought me to his ①banquet hall,
And his banner over me is love.
▷ ①Lit house of wine
2:5 Refresh me with raisin cakes,
Sustain me with apples,
Because I am lovesick.
2:6 His left hand is under my head,
And his right hand embraces me.”
2:7 “Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the does of the field,
That you will not disturb or awaken my love
Until she pleases.”
2:8 “Listen! My beloved!
Behold, he is coming,
Leaping on the mountains,
Jumping on the hills!
2:9 My beloved is like a gazelle or a young ①stag.
Behold, he is standing behind our wall,
He is looking through the windows,
He is peering through the lattice.
▷ ①Lit of the stags
2:10 “My beloved responded and said to me,
‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along.
2:11 For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
2:12 The blossoms have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for ①pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
▷ ①Or singing
2:13 The fig tree has ripened its fruit,
And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!’ ”
2:14 “My dove, in the clefts of the ①rock,
In the hiding place of the mountain pathway,
Let me see ②how you look,
Let me hear your voice;
For your voice is pleasant,
And ③you look delightful.”
▷ ①Or crag ②Lit your appearance ③Lit your appearance
2:15 “Catch the ①foxes for us,
The ②little ③foxes that are ruining the vineyards,
While our vineyards are in blossom.”
▷ ①Or jackals ②Or young ③Or jackals
2:16 “My beloved is mine, and I am his;
He pastures his flock among the lilies.
2:17 Until the cool of the day, when the shadows flee,
Turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle
Or a young stag on the mountains of ①Bether.”
▷ ①Or ravines; or perfumes