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Song of Solomon2

The chapter opens with the Shulamite describing herself as the "rose of Sharon" and "lily of the valleys," while her beloved praises her singular beauty. She then extols her beloved, finding comfort and delight in his presence, and describes their intimate embrace under a "banner of love." Later, the beloved calls her to join him, celebrating the arrival of spring, and she affirms their mutual belonging, expressing a desire for his continued presence.

The Shulamite's Declaration of Love

1
As a lily among the thorns,
2
So is my friend among the daughters!

The Beloved's Excellence

3
As a citron among trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons, In his shade I delighted, and sat down, And his fruit is sweet to my palate.
4
He hath brought me in unto a house of wine, And his banner over me is love,
5
Sustain me with grape-cakes, Support me with citrons, for I am sick with love.
6
His left hand is under my head, And his right doth embrace me.
7
I have adjured you, daughters of Jerusalem, By the roes or by the hinds of the field, Stir not up nor wake the love till she please!

The Arrival of the Beloved

8
The voice of my beloved! lo, this--he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
9
My beloved is like to a roe, Or to a young one of the harts. Lo, this--he is standing behind our wall, Looking from the windows, Blooming from the lattice.

A Summons to Love

10
My beloved hath answered and said to me, `Rise up, my friend, my fair one, and come away,
11
For lo, the winter hath passed by, The rain hath passed away--it hath gone.
12
The flowers have appeared in the earth, The time of the singing hath come, And the voice of the turtle was heard in our land,
13
The fig-tree hath ripened her green figs, And the sweet-smelling vines have given forth fragrance, Rise, come, my friend, my fair one, yea, come away.

A Plea for Intimacy

14
My dove, in clefts of the rock, In a secret place of the ascent, Cause me to see thine appearance, Cause me to hear thy voice, For thy voice is sweet, and thy appearance comely.

Protecting the Vineyards of Love

15
Seize ye for us foxes, Little foxes--destroyers of vineyards, Even our sweet-smelling vineyards.

Mutual Possession and Delight

16
My beloved is mine, and I am his, Who is delighting among the lilies,

Anticipation of Reunion

17
Till the day doth break forth, And the shadows have fled away, Turn, be like, my beloved, To a roe, or to a young one of the harts, On the mountains of separation!
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