Who is this coming from the desert, arm in arm with her lover? Under the apple tree I woke you, in the place where you were born.

Remember how the LORD your God led you on this long journey through the desert these past forty years, sending hardships to test you, so that he might know what you intended to do and whether you would obey his commands.

Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already---you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.

to proclaim this message to everyone in Jerusalem. "I remember how faithful you were when you were young, how you loved me when we were first married; you followed me through the desert, through a land that had not been planted.

In the desert I showed mercy to those people who had escaped death. When the people of Israel longed for rest,

The woman fled to the desert, to a place God had prepared for her, where she will be taken care of for 1, 260 days.

She was given the two wings of a large eagle in order to fly to her place in the desert, where she will be taken care of for three and a half years, safe from the dragon's attack.

During the day the LORD went in front of them in a pillar of cloud to show them the way, and during the night he went in front of them in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel night and day.

The pillar of cloud was always in front of the people during the day, and the pillar of fire at night.

At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women.

The sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.

Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message.

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God.

Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth.

There is a fragrance about you; the sound of your name recalls it. No woman could keep from loving you.

My lover has the scent of myrrh as he lies upon my breasts.

My sweetheart, my bride, is a secret garden, a walled garden, a private spring;

of saffron, calamus, and cinnamon, or incense of every kind. Myrrh and aloes grow there with all the most fragrant perfumes.

I was ready to let him come in. My hands were covered with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, as I grasped the handle of the door.

His cheeks are as lovely as a garden that is full of herbs and spices. His lips are like lilies, wet with liquid myrrh.

But thanks be to God! For in union with Christ we are always led by God as prisoners in Christ's victory procession. God uses us to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance.

For those who are being lost, it is a deadly stench that kills; but for those who are being saved, it is a fragrance that brings life. Who, then, is capable for such a task?

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people.