Song of Solomon 2:4-16

“He has brought me to his banqueting place, And his banner over me is love [waving overhead to protect and comfort me]. “Sustain me with raisin cakes, Refresh me with apples, Because I am sick with love. “Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.” [Deut 33:27; Matt 28:20] ¶“I command that you take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, By the gazelles or by the does of the field [which run free], That you do not rouse nor awaken my love Until she pleases.” ¶“Listen! My beloved! Behold, he comes, Climbing on the mountains, Leaping and running on the hills! [John 10:27] “My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, he is standing behind our wall, He is looking through the windows, He is gazing through the lattice. ¶“My beloved speaks and says to me, ‘Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away. ‘For behold, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. ‘The flowers appear on the earth once again; The time for singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. ‘The fig tree has budded and ripens her figs, And the vines are in blossom and give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away [to climb the rocky steps of the hillside].’ ” ¶“O my dove, [here] in the clefts in the rock, In the sheltered and secret place of the steep pathway, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely.” ¶“Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that spoil and ruin the vineyards [of love], While our vineyards are in blossom.” ¶“My beloved is mine and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies. [Matt 10:32; Acts 4:12]