Songofsolomon 2 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

I am a wildflower of the Sharon plain, a lily of the low valleys.

Like a lily among thorn-bushes — that is my darling among the other women.

Like an apple tree among the forest trees — that is my lover among the other men. I ache to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet on my tongue.

He brought me into the house of wine, and the banner raised over me was love.

Sustain me with raisin-cakes, revive me with apples — I am sick with love.

His left hand cradles my head, his right arm holds me close.

Promise me, women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles, by the wild does of the field — do not stir up love, do not awaken it until it is ready.

Listen — my lover's voice! Here he comes, leaping over mountains, bounding across hills.

My lover is like a gazelle, like a young stag. Look — there he stands behind our wall, peering through the windows, gazing through the lattice.

My lover speaks. He says to me: "Get up, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one."

Look — the winter is over, the rain is finished and gone.

Blossoms have appeared across the land, the season for singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our countryside.

The fig tree ripens its first fruit, and the blossoming vines give off their fragrance. Get up, my darling. Come away, my beautiful one.

My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the cliff-face — let me see your face, let me hear your voice, because your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.

Catch the foxes for us — the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

My lover belongs to me and I belong to him — he who feeds among the lilies.

Before the day breathes its last and the shadows flee — turn, my lover. Be like a gazelle, like a young stag on the jagged mountains.