Revised Standard Version RSV
Good News Translation GNT
1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
1
I am only a wild flower in Sharon, a lily in a mountain valley.
2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.
2
Like a lily among thorns is my darling among women.
3 As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among young men. With great delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
3
Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my dearest compared to other men. I love to sit in its shadow, and its fruit is sweet to my taste.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
4
He brought me to his banquet hall and raised the banner of love over me.
5 Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am sick with love.
5
Restore my strength with raisins and refresh me with apples! I am weak from passion.
6 O that his left hand were under my head, and that his right hand embraced me!
6
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand caresses me.
7 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the hinds of the field, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it please.
7
Promise me, women of Jerusalem; swear by the swift deer and the gazelles that you will not interrupt our love.
8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
8
I hear my lover's voice. He comes running over the mountains, racing across the hills to me.
9 My beloved is like a gazelle, or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing in at the windows, looking through the lattice.
9
My lover is like a gazelle, like a young stag. There he stands beside the wall. He looks in through the window and glances through the lattice.
10 My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
10
My lover speaks to me. Come then, my love; my darling, come with me.
11 for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
11
The winter is over; the rains have stopped;
12 The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
12
in the countryside the flowers are in bloom. This is the time for singing; the song of doves is heard in the fields.
13 The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
13
Figs are beginning to ripen; the air is fragrant with blossoming vines. Come then, my love; my darling, come with me.
14 O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, in the covert of the cliff, let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is comely.
14
You are like a dove that hides in the crevice of a rock. Let me see your lovely face and hear your enchanting voice.
15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."
15
Catch the foxes, the little foxes, before they ruin our vineyard in bloom.
16 My beloved is mine and I am his, he pastures his flock among the lilies.
16
My lover is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies
17 Until the day breathes and the shadows flee, turn, my beloved, be like a gazelle, or a young stag upon rugged mountains.
17
until the morning breezes blow and the darkness disappears. Return, my darling, like a gazelle, like a stag on the mountains of Bether.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.