New Living Translation NLT
The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
1 I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon Plain, the lily of the valley.
1
I am but a rose from the Sharon, just a lily in the valleys.
2 Like a lily among thistles is my darling among young women.
2
[He] Like a lily among thorns is my darling among the other 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
[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.
4 He escorts me to the banquet hall; it’s obvious how much he loves me.
4
He brings me to the banquet hall; his banner over me is love.
5 Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am weak with love.
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Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love.
6 His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
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[I wish] his left arm [were] under my head, and his right arm around me.
7 Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time is right.
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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!
8 Ah, I hear my lover coming! He is leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills.
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The voice of the man I love! Here he comes, bounding over the mountains, skipping 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.
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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.
10 My lover said to me, “Rise up, my darling! Come away with me, my fair one!
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My darling speaks; he is saying to me, "Get up, my love! My beauty! Come away!
11 Look, the winter is past, and the rains are over and gone.
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For you see that the winter has passed, the rain is finished and gone,
12 The flowers are springing up, the season of singing birds has come, and the cooing of turtledoves fills the air.
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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.
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 fig trees are forming their unripe figs, and the grapevines in bloom give out their perfume. Get up, my love, my beauty! Come away!"
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
[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.
15 Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming!
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[She] "Catch the foxes for us, yes, the little foxes! They are ruining the vineyards when our vineyards are in bloom!"
16 My lover is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
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My darling is mine, and I am his, as he pastures his flock 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 daytime breeze rises and the shadows flee, return, my love, like a stag or gazelle on the hills of Beter.
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.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.