Song of Solomon Chapter 2
From The Open Bible Project
2:1 I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys. Lover
2:2 As a lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. Beloved
- (a) Thus Christ prefers his Church above all other things.
2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, his fruit was sweet to my taste.
- (b) The spouse testifies her great desire toward her husband, but her strength fails her, and therefore she desires to be comforted, and felt it.
2:4 He brought me to the banquet hall. His banner over me is love.
2:5 Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples; For I am faint with love.
2:6 His left hand is under my head. His right hand embraces me.
2:7 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, or by the hinds of the field, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
- (c) Christ charges them who have to do in the Church as it were by a solemn oath, that they trouble not the quietness of it.
2:8 The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping on the mountains, skipping on the hills.
- (d) This is spoken of Christ who took on our nature to come to help his Church.
2:9 My beloved is like a roe or a young hart. Behold, he stands behind our wall! He looks in at the windows. He glances through the lattice.
- (e) For as his divinity was hidden under the cloak of our flesh.
- (f) So that we cannot have full knowledge of him in this life.
2:10 My beloved spoke, and said to me, "Rise up, my love, my beautiful one, and come away.
2:11 For, behold, the winter is past. The rain is over and gone.
- (g) That is, sin and error is driven back by the coming of Christ, who is here described by the springtime, when all things flourish.
2:12 The flowers appear on the earth. The time of the singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.
2:13 The fig tree ripens her green figs. The vines are in blossom. They give forth their fragrance. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away." Lover
2:14 My dove in the clefts of the rock, In the hiding places of the mountainside, Let me see your face. Let me hear your voice; for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely.
- (h) You who are ashamed of your sins, come and show yourself to me.
2:15 Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom. Beloved
- (i) Suppress the heretics while they are young, that is, when they begin to show their malice, and destroy the vine of the Lord.
2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses among the lilies.
2:17 Until the day is cool, and the shadows flee away, turn, my beloved, and be like a roe or a young hart on the mountains of Bether.
- (k) The church desires Christ to be most ready to help her in all dangers.
