Its foliage was attractive and its fruit plentiful; on it there was food enough for all. Under it the wild animals ¹  used to seek shade, and in its branches the birds of the sky used to nest. All creatures ²  used to feed themselves from it.

The first disappeared ¹  and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

By the blast of your nostrils ¹  the waters were piled up, the flowing water stood upright like a heap, ²  and the deep waters were solidified in the heart of the sea.

then the priest will command that two live clean birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, ¹  and some twigs of hyssop ²  be taken up ³  for the one being cleansed. ⁴ 

The officials of Succoth said, “You have not yet overpowered Zebah and Zalmunna. So why should we give ¹  bread to your army?” ² 

If the river rages, ¹  it is not disturbed, it is secure, ²  though the Jordan should surge up to its mouth.

Do not hold against me ¹  the sins of my youth ²  or my rebellious acts! Because you are faithful to me, extend to me your favor, O Lord! ³ 

The Lord’s shout bends ¹  the large trees ²  and strips ³  the leaves from the forests. ⁴  Everyone in his temple says, “Majestic!” ⁵ 

Above the sound of the surging water, ¹  and the mighty waves of the sea, the Lord sits enthroned in majesty. ² 

They surrounded me like bees. But they disappeared as quickly ¹  as a fire among thorns. ²  Indeed, in the name of the Lord I pushed them away.

The mouth ¹  of an adulteress is like ²  a deep pit; ³  the one against whom the Lord is angry ⁴  will fall into it. ⁵ 

When you gaze upon riches, ¹  they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle! ² 

Like one who grabs a wild dog by the ears, ¹  so is the person passing by who becomes furious ²  over a quarrel not his own.

Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue. The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

The Beloved to Her Lover: Make haste, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

Her fortresses will be overgrown with thorns; thickets and weeds will grow ¹  in her fortified cities. Jackals will settle there; ostriches will live there. ² 

I will make cedars, acacias, myrtles, and olive trees grow in the wilderness; I will make evergreens, firs, and cypresses grow together in the desert.

“People of Babylonia, ¹  you plundered my people. ²  That made you happy and glad. You frolic about like calves in a pasture. ³  Your joyous sounds are like the neighs of a stallion. ⁴ 

ג (Gimel) Even the jackals ¹  nurse their young at their breast, ²  but my people ³  are cruel, like ostriches ⁴  in the desert.

I will put an end to all her celebration: her annual religious festivals, monthly new moon celebrations, and weekly Sabbath festivities – all her appointed festivals.