2 I am a ·rose [or flower] in the Plain of Sharon [^Ca fertile plain along the Mediterranean coast],
a lily in the valleys [^Cshe claims to be ordinary].

² Among the ·young women [girls], my darling
is like a lily among thorns [^Cshe is extraordinarily beautiful]!

³ Among the ·young men [boys], my lover
    is like an apple tree ·in the woods [^Lamong the trees of the forest; ^Che is extraordinary; the apple tree is fruitful and pleasant smelling]!
I ·enjoy sitting in [desire] his ·shadow [shade];
    his fruit is sweet to my ·taste [palate].
⁴ He brought me to the ·banquet room [^Lhouse of wine],
    and his banner over me is love [^Chis love for her is well known].
⁵ Strengthen me with ·raisins [raisin cakes],
    and refresh me with apples [^Cconsidered aphrodisiacs],
    because I am ·weak [faint] with love.
⁶ My lover’s left hand is under my head,
    and his right arm ·holds me tight [embraces me; 8:3].

⁷ ·Women [^LDaughters] of Jerusalem [1:5], ·promise me [I adjure you]
    by the gazelles and the deer of the field [^Cin Hebrew sounds like “by the (Lord) of Hosts” or “by God Almighty”]
not to awaken
    or ·excite [arouse] love
until it ·is ready [so desires; ^Clikely a warning to the women to wait for love until the right person comes along; 3:5; 8:4].

⁸ I hear ·my lover’s voice [the sound of my lover].
    Here he comes ·jumping [leaping] across the mountains,
    ·skipping [bounding] over the hills [^Che moves with agile grace and speed].
⁹ My lover is like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag].
    Look, he stands behind our wall
·peeking [staring] through the windows,
    looking through the ·blinds [lattice].
¹⁰ My lover spoke and said to me,
    “·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
    let’s go away, my beautiful one.
¹¹ Look, the winter is past;
    the rains are over and gone [^Cspring has arrived, the time of love].
¹² Blossoms appear through all the land.
    The time has come to sing;
    the cooing of doves is heard in our land.
¹³ There are young figs ·on [^Lripening on] the fig trees,
    and the blossoms on the vines ·smell sweet [^Lspread their fragrance].
·Get [Rise] up, my darling;
    let’s go away, my beautiful one.”

¹⁴ My beloved is like a dove hiding in the ·cracks [crevices] of the rock,
    in the ·secret [hiding] places of the cliff.
·Show me [Let me see] your ·face [^Lform],
    and let me hear your voice.
Your voice is ·sweet [agreeable],
    and your ·face [form] is ·lovely [pleasant].
¹⁵ ·Catch [Grab] the foxes for us—
    the little foxes that ruin the vineyards
while they are in blossom [^Cthreats to the relationship].

¹⁶ My lover is mine, and I am his [6:3; 7:11].
    He ·feeds [grazes] among the lilies
¹⁷ until the day dawns
    and the shadows ·disappear [flee].
Turn, my lover.
    Be like a gazelle or a young ·deer [stag]
on the ·mountain valleys [or the mountains of Bether].