1I am a rose of Sharon , A lily of the valleys . 2As a lily among thorns , So is my love among the daughters . 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 . 4He brought me to the banqueting-house, And his banner over me was love. 5Stay ye me with raisins, refresh me with apples ; For I am sick from love. 6His left hand is under my head , And his right hand doth embrace me . 7I adjure you , O daughters of Jerusalem , By the roes , or by the hinds of the field , That ye stir not up , nor awake my love , Until he please .
The Lover's Response and Assurance
8The voice of my beloved ! behold , he cometh, Leaping upon the mountains , Skipping upon the hills . 9My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: Behold , he standeth behind our wall ; He looketh in at the windows ; He glanceth through the lattice . 10My beloved spake , and said unto me , Rise up , my love , my fair one , and come away . 11For , lo , the winter is past ; The rain is over and gone ; 12The flowers appear on the earth; The time of the singing of birds is come , And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land; 13The fig-tree ripeneth her green figs , And the vines are in blossom ; They give forth their fragrance . Arise , my love , my fair one , and come away . 14O my dove , that art in the clefts of the rock , In the covert of the steep place , Let me see thy countenance , Let me hear thy voice ; For sweet is thy voice , and thy countenance is comely .
The Call to Love and Commitment
15Take us the foxes , the little foxes , That spoil the vineyards ; For our vineyards are in blossom . 16My beloved is mine, and I am his : He feedeth his flock among the lilies . 17Until the day be cool , and the shadows flee away , Turn , my beloved , and be thou like a roe or a young hart Upon the mountains of Bether .