New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
1I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley. Young Man | 1I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley. |
2Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women. Young Woman | 2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens. |
3Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men. I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit. | 3Like an apricot tree among the trees of the forest is my beloved among the young men. I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. |
4He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me. | 4He has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love. |
5Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love. | 5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. |
6His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. | 6His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. |
7Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right. | 7O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you by the gazelles and does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right. |
8Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. | 8Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. |
9My lover is like a swift gazelle or a young stag. Look, there he is behind the wall, looking through the window, peering into the room. | 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look, he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice. |
10My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one! | 10My beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one. |
11Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone. | 11For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. |
12The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air. | 12The flowers have appeared in the countryside; the season of singing has come, and the cooing of turtledoves is heard in our land. |
13The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!” Young Man | 13The fig tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.” |
14My dove is hiding behind the rocks, behind an outcrop on the cliff. Let me see your face; let me hear your voice. For your voice is pleasant, and your face is lovely. Young Women of Jerusalem | 14O my dove in the clefts of the rock, in the crevices of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your countenance is lovely. |
15Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming! Young Woman | 15Catch for us the foxes—the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—for our vineyards are in bloom. |
16My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies. | 16My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies. |
17Before the dawn breezes blow and the night shadows flee, return to me, my love, like a gazelle or a young stag on the rugged mountains. | 17Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether. |
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