1I am the rose of Sharon , and the lily of the valleys . 2As the 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 me with flagons , comfort me with apples : for I am sick of love . 6His left hand is under my head , and his right hand doth embrace me. 7I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem , by the roes , and by the hinds of the field , that ye stir not up , nor awake my love , till 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 forth at the windows , shewing himself 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 is heard in our land ; 13The fig tree putteth forth her green figs , and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell . Arise , my love , my fair one , and come away . 14O my dove , that art in the clefts of the rock , in the secret places of the stairs , 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 vines : for our vines have tender grapes . 16My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies . 17Until the day break , and the shadows flee away , turn , my beloved , and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether .