1 Kind is the speech of Christ our Lord, Affection sounds in every word, "Lo, thou art fair, my love, he cries, "Not the young doves have sweeter eyes.
2 ["Sweet are thy lips, thy pleasing voice "Salutes mine ear with secret joys, "No spice so much delights the smell, "Nor milk nor honey taste so well.]
3 "Thou art all fair, my bride, to me, "I will behold no spot in thee." What mighty wonders love performs, And puts a comeliness on worms!
4 Defil'd and loathsome as we are, He makes us white, and calls us fair; Adorns us with that heavenly dress, His graces and his righteousness.
5 "My sister, and my spouse," he cries, "Bound to my heart by various ties, "Thy powerful love my heart detains "In strong delight and pleasing chains."
6 He calls me from the leopard's den, From this wild world of beasts and men, To Sion where his glories are; Not Lebanon is half so fair.
7 Nor dens of prey, nor flowery plains Nor earthly joys, nor earthly pains Shall hold my feet, or force my stay, When Christ invites my soul away.