✧I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley. ✧2Like a lily among the thorns is my darling among the maidens. ✧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 has brought me to the house of wine, and his banner over me is love. ✧5Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. ✧6His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. ✧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. ✧8Listen! My beloved approaches. Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills. ✧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 beloved calls to me, “Arise, my darling. Come away with me, my beautiful one. ✧11For now the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. ✧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 tree ripens its figs; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come away, my darling; come away with me, my beautiful one.” ✧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 for us the foxes— the little foxes that ruin the vineyards— for our vineyards are in bloom. ✧16My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies. ✧17Before the day breaks and shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of Bether.