Revised Standard Version RSV
New International Version NIV
2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.
2
Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the young women.
3 As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
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 brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
4
Let him lead me to the banquet hall, and let his banner over me be love.
5 Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am sick with love.
5
Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
6 O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me!
6
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
7 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it please.
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 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
8
Listen! My beloved! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.
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 beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
10
My beloved spoke and said to me, “Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me.
11 for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
11
See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
12
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. 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.