Revised Standard Version RSV
GOD'S WORD Translation GW
1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.
1
I am a rose of Sharon, a lily [growing] in the valleys.
2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among maidens.
2
Like a lily among thorns, so is my true love among the young 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 in the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. I want to sit in his shadow. His fruit tastes sweet to me.
4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.
4
He leads me into a banquet room and looks at me with love.
5 Sustain me with raisins, refresh me with apples; for I am sick with love.
5
Strengthen me with raisins and refresh me with apples because I am weak from love.
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. 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
Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me by the gazelles or by the does in the field that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time.
8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
8
I hear my beloved's voice. Look! Here he comes, sprinting over the mountains, racing over the hills.
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 beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Look! There he stands behind our wall, peeking through the window, looking through the lattice.
10 My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away;
10
My beloved said to me, "Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and come with me.
11 for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone.
11
Look! The winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
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
Blossoms appear in the land. The time of the songbird has arrived. The cooing of the mourning dove is heard in our land.
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
The green figs ripen. The grapevines bloom and give off a fragrance. Get up, my true love, my beautiful one, and 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
My dove, in the hiding places of the rocky crevices, in the secret places of the cliffs, let me see your figure and hear your voice. Your voice is sweet, and your figure is lovely."
15 Catch us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."
15
Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that ruin vineyards. Our vineyards are blooming.
16 My beloved is mine and I am his, he pastures his flock among the lilies.
16
My beloved is mine, and I am his. He is the one who grazes 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
When the day brings a cooling breeze and the shadows flee, turn around, my beloved. Run like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains that separate us!
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.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.