Add parallel Print Page Options

12 A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
    a garden[a] locked, a fountain sealed.(A)
13 Your channel[b] is an orchard of pomegranates
    with all choicest fruits,
    henna with nard,(B)
14 nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
    with all trees of frankincense,
myrrh and aloes,
    with all chief spices—(C)
15 a garden fountain, a well of living water,
    and flowing streams from Lebanon.(D)

16 Awake, O north wind,
    and come, O south wind!
Blow upon my garden
    that its fragrance may be wafted abroad.
Let my beloved come to his garden
    that he may eat its choicest fruits.(E)

I come to my garden, my sister, my bride;
    I gather my myrrh with my spice;
    I eat my honeycomb with my honey;
    I drink my wine with my milk.

Eat, friends, drink,
    and be drunk with love.(F)

Footnotes

  1. 4.12 Heb mss Gk Vg Syr: MT heap of stones
  2. 4.13 Meaning of Heb uncertain

12 An enclosed garden is my sister, my bride;
        an enclosed pool, a sealed spring.
13 Your limbs are an orchard of pomegranates
        with all kinds of luscious fruit,
            henna, and spices:
14             nard and saffron,
            sweet cane and cinnamon,
        with all scented woods,
            myrrh, and aloes,
        with the very choicest perfumes!
15 You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water,
        streams from Lebanon.
16 Stir, north wind, and come, south wind!
        Blow upon my garden;
        let its perfumes flow!

[Woman]

Let my love come to his garden;
        let him eat its luscious fruit!

[Man]

I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride!
I have gathered my myrrh and my spices.
I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey;
I have drunk my wine and my milk.
Eat, dear friends!
Drink and get drunk on love!