How fair is your love, My sister, my spouse! How much better than wine is your love, And the scent of your perfumes Than all spices!

The Shulamite’s Troubled Evening

The Shulamite

I sleep, but my heart is awake; It is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, “Open for me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one; For my head is covered with dew, My locks with the drops of the night.”

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, That you tell him I am lovesick!

His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem!

Praise of the Shulamite’s Beauty

The Beloved

O my love, you are as beautiful as Tirzah, Lovely as Jerusalem, Awesome as an army with banners!

How fair and how pleasant you are, O love, with your delights!

Let us get up early to the vineyards; Let us see if the vine has budded, Whether the grape blossoms are open, And the pomegranates are in bloom. There I will give you my love.

Lovers Reunited at Their Country Home

Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

Love Renewed in Lebanon

A Relative

Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth.

The Shulamite to Her Beloved

Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame.

Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.