New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley.
1
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women.
2
Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.
3 Like 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.
3
Like an apple 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.
4 He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.
4
Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.
5 Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
5
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
6
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7 Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.
7
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
8 Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.
8
Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9 My 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.
9
My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattice.
10 My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!
10
My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
11 Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
11
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
12
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
13 The fig trees are forming young fruit, and the fragrant grapevines are blossoming. Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!”
13
The fig tree forms its early fruit; the blossoming vines spread their fragrance. Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me.”
14 My 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.
14
My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hiding places on the mountainside, show me your face, let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
15
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
16 My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
16
My beloved is mine and I am his; he browses among the lilies.
17 Before 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.
17
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the rugged hills.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.