Song of Solomon 2
The bride compares herself to a flower and her beloved to an apple tree, expressing her love and desire for him. The groom praises the bride's beauty, likening her to a lily among thorns, and the bride longs to be with him, asking to be propped up with flowers and closed in with apples. The groom warns others not to disturb the bride, and she hears his voice, describing him as a doe and a young stag, and he calls her to rise up and advance, as winter has passed and spring has arrived. The bride asks the groom to return to her, likening him to a doe and a young stag.
1Bride: I am a flower of the open field and a lily of the steep valleys2Groom: Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the daughters3Bride to Chorus: Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat beneath the shadow of the one whom I desired, and his fruit was sweet to my palate4He brought me into the storeroom of wine. He set charity in order within me5Prop me up with flowers. Close me in with apples. For I languish through love6His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me7Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the does and the stags of the open field, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, even for as long as she wills8Bride to Chorus: The voice of my beloved! Behold, he arrives leaping along the mountains, jumping across the hills9My beloved is like a doe and like a young stag. Lo, he stands beyond our wall, gazing through the windows, watching through the lattices10Lo, my beloved speaks to me: Groom to Bride: Rise up, quickly, my love, my dove, my shapely one, and advance11For winter has now past; the rain has decreased and gone away12The flowers have appeared in our land; the time for pruning has arrived. The voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land13The fig tree has brought forth its green figs; the flowering vines bestow their odor. Rise up, my love, my brilliant one, and advance14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollows of the wall, reveal to me your face. Let your voice sound in my ears. For your voice is sweet, and your face is graceful15Chorus to Groom and Bride: Capture for us the little foxes, which are tearing down the vines; for our vineyard has flourished16Bride to Chorus: My beloved is for me, and I am for him. He pastures among the lilies, until the day rises and the shadows decline17Bride to Groom: Return, O my beloved. Be like a doe and like a young stag upon the mountains of Bether
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