Song of Solomon 2

2¹ I'm just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon, a lotus blossom from the valley pools. ² A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds - that's my dear friend among the girls in the village.

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. ⁴ He took me home with him for a festive meal, but his eyes feasted on me! ⁵ Oh! Give me something refreshing to eat - and quickly! Apricots, raisins - anything. I'm about to faint with love! ⁶ His left hand cradles my head, and his right arm encircles my waist! 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.

⁸ Look! Listen! There's my lover! Do you see him coming? Vaulting the mountains, leaping 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! ¹⁰ My lover has arrived and he's speaking to me! Get up, my dear friend, fair and beautiful lover - come to me! ¹¹ Look around you: Winter is over; the winter rains are over, 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. 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!

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. 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. ¹⁶ My lover is mine, and I am his. Nightly he strolls in our garden, Delighting in the flowers 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!