The Shulammite Bride’s Desire

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon’s.

“Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the sons. In his shade I had great desire and sat down, And his fruit was sweet to my taste.

The Bride Delights in Her Beloved

“The voice of my beloved! Behold, he is coming, Leaping on the mountains, Jumping on the hills!

My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall; He gazes through the windows; He is peering through the lattice.

The flowers have appeared in the land; The time for pruning has arrived; And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

“Seize the foxes for us, The little foxes that are wreaking destruction on the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.”

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, May you come with me from Lebanon. Journey down from the top of Amana, From the top of Senir and Hermon, From the dens of lions, From the mountains of leopards.

The Bride Searches for Her Beloved

“I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride; I have picked my myrrh along with my balsam. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, friends; Drink and imbibe deeply, O lovers.”

“I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, my perfect one! For my head is full of dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’

His mouth is full of sweetness. And he is wholly desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.”

Your navel is like a round basin Which never lacks mixed wine; Your belly is like a heap of wheat Encircled with lilies.

The Union of Love

“I am my beloved’s, And his desire is for me.

The Power and Preciousness of Love

“Oh that you were like a brother to me Who nursed at my mother’s breasts. If I found you outside, I would kiss you; No one would despise me, either.

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning on her beloved?” “Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother was in labor with you; There she was in labor and gave you birth.

Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of Yah.

Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”