SONG OF SONGS


Return, return O Shulamite, return, return that we may look upon thee.

Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army carrying banners.

Look not upon me because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me.

I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine, he feedeth among the lillies.

 

I am the Rose of Sharon, the Lilly of the Valley. As the lilly among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

A fountain of gardens, a well of flowing waters, and streams from Lebanon.

Let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits.

I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine, he feedeth among the lillies.

 

He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love.

I sat down under his shadow and his fruit was sweet to my taste.

Thou art all fair my love, there is no spot in thee.

The joints of thy thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of a cunning workman.

This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.

Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountains of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.

I am my beloveds and my beloved is mine. I am my beloveds and his desire is towards me.

 

Until the day break and the shadows flee away, be thou like a roe or a young hart, upon the mountains of Bether.

My beloved spoke and said to me: Rise my love, my fair one and come away.

Let us get up early to the vineyards, let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear and the pomegrantes bud forth: there I will give you my love.

And our bed is green.

How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! How much better is thy love than wine!