The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools.
1
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.
2 A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village.
2
As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.
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.
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, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
4 He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me!
4
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
5 Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat - and quickly! Apricots, raisins - anything. I'm about to faint with love!
5
Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love.
6 His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist!
6
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me.
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.
7
I 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.
8 Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping the hills.
8
The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.
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!
9
My 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.
10 My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me!
10
My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.
11 Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, gone!
11
For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;
12 Spring flowers are in blossom all over. The whole world's a choir - and singing! Spring warblers are filling the forest with sweet arpeggios.
12
The 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;
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!
13
The 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.
14 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.
14
O 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.
15 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.
15
Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
16 My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers
16
My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
17 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!
17
Until 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.
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.
The King James Version is in the public domain.