A Wedding Responsory

Response:

Many waters cannot quench love

neither can floods drown it.

Verse:

Set me as a seal on your heart

as a seal on your arm

for love is as strong as death

Its flashes are flashes of fire

Response: Many waters …

Verse:

Upon my bed at night

I sought him whom my soul loves

I sought him and found him not

I called him but he gave no answer.

Response: Many waters …

Verse:

I slept but my heart was awake

Listen! my beloved is knocking

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine

He pastures his flocks among the lilies

Response: Many waters …

Verse:

My beloved speaks and says to me

“Arise, my love, my fair one,

and come away

for now the winter is past

the rain is over and gone.”

Response: Many waters …

Verse:

Awake, O north wind,

and come, O south wind

blow upon my garden

that its fragrance may be wafted abroad

let my beloved come to his garden

and eat its choicest fruits.

Response: Many waters …

Verse:

The flowers appear on the earth

the time of singing has come

and the voice of the turtle dove

is heard in our land

my beloved is mine and I am his,

and his banner over me is love.

Response: Many waters …