Say, O love of my soul, where you give food to your flock, and where you make them take their rest in the heat of the day; why have I to be as one wandering by the flocks of your friends?

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes of the field, do not let love be moved till it is ready.

“My beloved speaks and says to me,
‘Arise, my love, my fair one,
And come away.

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes of the field, let not love be moved till it is ready.

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you see my loved one, what will you say to him? That I am overcome with love.

What is your loved one more than another, O fairest among women? What is your loved one more than another, that you say this to us?

I say, "I will climb up the palm tree; I will lay hold of its fruit clusters." Let your breasts [be pleasing] like clusters of the vine and the scent of your breath like the apples.

“Oh, that you were like a brother to me,
Who nursed at the breasts of my mother.
If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you;
No one would blame me or despise me, either.

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not let love be moved till it is ready.