The Lover to His Beloved: ¹  I went down to the orchard of walnut trees, ²  to look for the blossoms of the valley, ³  to see if the vines had budded or if the pomegranates were in bloom.

He bends down to look ¹  at the sky and the earth.

“Listen, you deaf ones! Take notice, ¹  you blind ones!

“No,” he insisted, “but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable.” ¹ 

But the Kohathites ¹  are not to go in to watch while the holy things are being covered, or they will die.”

Where would I be if I did not believe I would experience the Lord’s favor in the land of the living? ¹ 

Yes, ¹  in the sanctuary I have seen you, ²  and witnessed ³  your power and splendor.

Light ¹  is sweet, ²  and it is pleasant for a person ³  to see the sun. ⁴ 

Then Noah ¹  sent out a dove ²  to see if the waters had receded ³  from the surface of the ground.

Now Dinah, Leah’s daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went to meet ¹  the young women ²  of the land.

Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to see the land.

Eli’s eyes had begun to fail, so that he was unable to see well. At that time he was lying down in his place,

Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes looked straight ahead; ¹  he was unable to see.

Remember ¹  that my life is but a breath, that ²  my eyes will never again ³  see happiness.

The Lord looks down from heaven ¹  at the human race, ²  to see if there is anyone who is wise ³  and seeks God. ⁴ 

You will not abandon me ¹  to Sheol; ²  you will not allow your faithful follower ³  to see ⁴  the Pit. ⁵ 

Do you want to really live? ¹  Would you love to live a long, happy life? ² 

so I may see the prosperity ¹  of your chosen ones, rejoice along with your nation, ²  and boast along with the people who belong to you. ³ 

When you enter my presence, do you actually think I want this – animals trampling on my courtyards? ¹ 

Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means ¹  I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.” ²