Canticle of Canticles 2

NEW JERUSALEM	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 -I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the val eys.	1 Bride: "I am a flower of the open field and a lily of the steep valleys."
2 -As a lily among the thistles, so is my beloved among girls.	2 Groom: "Like a lily among the thorns, so is my loved one among the daughters."
3 -As an apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my love among young men. In his delightful shadeI sit, and his fruit is sweet to my taste.	3 Bride 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 palate."
4 He has taken me to his cel ar, and his banner over me is love.	4 "He brought me into the storeroom of wine. He set charity in order within me."
5 Feed me with raisin cakes, restore me with apples, for I am sick with love.	5 "Prop me up with flowers. Close me in with apples. For I languish through love."
6 His left arm is under my head, his right embraces me.	6 "His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me."
7 -I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, by al gazel es and wild does, do not rouse, do not wake mybeloved before she pleases.	7 Groom 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 wills."
8 BELOVED: I hear my love. See how he comes leaping on the mountains, bounding over the hills.	8 Bride to Chorus: "The voice of my beloved! Behold, he arrives leaping along the mountains, jumping across the hills."
9 My love is like a gazel e, like a young stag. See where he stands behind our wal . He looks in at thewindow, he peers through the opening.	9 "My beloved is like a doe and like a young stag."
10 My love lifts up his voice, he says to me, 'Come then, my beloved, my lovely one, come.	10 "Lo, he stands beyond our wall, gazing through the windows, watching through the lattices."
11 For see, winter is past, the rains are over and gone.	11 "Lo, my beloved speaks to me:"
12 'Flowers are appearing on the earth. The season of glad songs has come, the cooing of the turtledoveis heard in our land.	12 Groom to Bride: "Rise up, quickly, my love, my dove, my shapely one, and advance."
13 The fig tree is forming its first figs and the blossoming vines give out their fragrance. Come then, mybeloved, my lovely one, come.	13 "For winter has now past; the rain has decreased and gone away."
14 'My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock, in the coverts of the cliff, show me your face, let me hear yourvoice; for your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.'	14 "The flowers have appeared in our land; the time for pruning has arrived. The voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land."
15 Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that make havoc of the vineyards, for our vineyards are in fruit.	15 "The fig tree has brought forth its green figs; the flowering vines bestow their odor. Rise up, my love, my brilliant one, and advance."
16 My love is mine and I am his. He pastures his flock among the lilies.	16 "My 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 graceful."
17 Before the day-breeze rises, before the shadows flee, return! Be, my love, like a gazel e, like a youngstag, on the mountains of Bether.	17 Bride to Groom: "Return, O my beloved. Be like a doe and like a young stag upon the mountains of Bether."