New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley.
1
[Woman]I'm a rose of the Sharon plain, a lily of the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women.
2
[Man]Like a lily among thornbushes, so is my dearest 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
[Woman]Like an apple tree among the wild trees, so is my lover among the young men. In his shade I take pleasure in sitting, 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
He has brought me to the house of wine; his banner raised over me is love.
5 Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
5
Sustain me with raisin cakes, strengthen me with apples, for I'm weak with love!
6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
6
His left arm is beneath my head, his right 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
Make a solemn pledge, daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the wild deer: Don't rouse, don't arouse love until it desires.
8 Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.
8
Listen! It's my lover: here he comes now, leaping upon 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 lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands now, outside our wall, peering through the windows, peeking through the lattices.
10 My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!
10
My lover spoke and said to me, "Rise up, my dearest, my fairest, and go.
11 Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
11
Here, the winter is past; the rains have come and gone.
12 The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
12
Blossoms have appeared in the land; the season of singing has arrived, and the sound of the turtledove 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 green fruit is on the fig tree, and the grapevines in bloom are fragrant. Rise up, my dearest, my fairest, and go.
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 rock crevices, hidden in the cliff face— let me catch sight of you; let me hear your voice! The sound of your voice is sweet, and the sight of you is lovely."
15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
15
Catch foxes for us— those little foxes that spoil vineyards, now that our vineyards are in bloom!
16 My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
16
I belong to my lover and he belongs to me— the one grazing 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
Before the day breeze blows and the shadows flee, turn about, my love; be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the jagged mountains.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible