SHEBy the time the king is in his circle, my nard, will have given out its fragrance:

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and the wild does of the field:
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time.

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

SHEUpon my couch, in the night-time, sought I the beloved of my soul, - I sought him, but found him not.

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you
by the gazelles and the wild does of the field:
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time.

All of them, grasping the sword, trained for war, - every man, with his sword upon his thigh, because of dread, in the night-time.

Nevertheless when I had opened unto my beloved, he was departed and gone his way. Now like as afore time when he spake, my heart could not longer refrain: Even so now I sought him, but I could not find him: I cried upon him, nevertheless he gave me no answer.

Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you:
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time.