The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
The Message Bible MSG
1 I am but a rose from the Sharon, just a lily in the valleys.
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I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools.
2 [He] Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the other women.
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A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village.
3 [She] Like an apple tree among the other trees in the forest is my darling among the other men. I love to sit in his shadow; his fruit is sweet to my taste.
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As an apricot tree stands out in the forest, my lover stands above the young men in town. All I want is to sit in his shade, to taste and savor his delicious love.
4 He brings me to the banquet hall; his banner over me is love.
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He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me!
5 Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.
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Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat - and quickly! Apricots, raisins - anything. I'm about to faint with love!
6 [I wish] his left arm [were] under my head, and his right arm around me.
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His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist!
7 I warn you, daughters of Yerushalayim, by the gazelles and deer in the wilds, not to awaken or stir up love until it wants to arise!
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Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem, by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe - and you're ready.
8 The voice of the man I love! Here he comes, bounding over the mountains, skipping over the hills!
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Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills.
9 My darling is like a gazelle or young stag. There he is, standing outside our wall, looking in through the windows, peering in through the lattice.
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My lover is like a gazelle, graceful; like a young stag, virile. Look at him there, on tiptoe at the gate, all ears, all eyes - ready!
10 My darling speaks; he is saying to me, "Get up, my love! My beauty! Come away!
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My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me!
11 For you see that the winter has passed, the rain is finished and gone,
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Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone!
12 the flowers are appearing in the countryside, the time has come for [the birds] to sing, and the cooing of doves can be heard in the land.
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Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios.
13 The fig trees are forming their unripe figs, and the grapevines in bloom give out their perfume. Get up, my love, my beauty! Come away!"
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Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed, and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms. Oh, get up, dear friend, my fair and beautiful lover - come to me!
14 [He] My dove, hiding in holes in the rock, in the secret recesses of the cliff, let me see your face and hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
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Come, my shy and modest dove - leave your seclusion, come out in the open. Let me see your face, let me hear your voice. For your voice is soothing and your face is ravishing.
15 [She] "Catch the foxes for us, yes, the little foxes! They are ruining the vineyards when our vineyards are in bloom!"
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Then you must protect me from the foxes, foxes on the prowl, Foxes who would like nothing better than to get into our flowering garden.
16 My darling is mine, and I am his, as he pastures his flock among the lilies.
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My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers
17 Before the daytime breeze rises and the shadows flee, return, my love, like a stag or gazelle on the hills of Beter.
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until dawn breathes its light and night slips away. Turn to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on delectable mountains!
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.