Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys.
1
I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools.
2 As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters. Beloved
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A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village.
3 As 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, His fruit was sweet to my taste.
3
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 brought 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 Strengthen me with raisins, Refresh me with apples; For I am faint 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 His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.
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His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist!
7 I adjure you, daughters of Yerushalayim, By the roes, or by the hinds of the field, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires.
7
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 my beloved! Behold, he comes, Leaping on the mountains, Skipping on 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 beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
9
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 beloved spoke, and said to me, Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and 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, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
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Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone!
12 The flowers appear on the eretz; The time of the singing has come, And the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our 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 tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom; They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, And come away. Lover
13
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 My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me 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 Catch for us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vineyards; For our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved
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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 beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses 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 Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether.
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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!
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
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.