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Before the dawn comes,
    and the shadows flee,
I will hasten to the mountain of myrrh
    and the hill of frankincense.
You are all-beautiful, my love,
    without the slightest blemish.[a]
Come with me from Lebanon, my promised bride;[b]
    come with me from Lebanon.
Descend quickly from the heights of Amana,
    from the peaks of Senir and Hermon,
from the dens of lions,
    from the mountains of leopards.

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 4:7 See the description of the Church in Eph 5:27. The Liturgy applies this verse to our Lady in the celebration of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
  2. Song of Songs 4:8 Promised bride: i.e., the betrothed. Amana . . . Senir . . . Hermon: names of peaks in the Anti-Lebanon. The Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon are two mountain chains on the borders of Palestine. These far-off mountains symbolize the distance that separates the two lovers.

Until the day breaks
    and the shadows flee,(A)
I will go to the mountain of myrrh(B)
    and to the hill of incense.
You are altogether beautiful,(C) my darling;
    there is no flaw(D) in you.

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,(E)
    come with me from Lebanon.
Descend from the crest of Amana,
    from the top of Senir,(F) the summit of Hermon,(G)
from the lions’ dens
    and the mountain haunts of leopards.

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