< Song of Solomon 8 >
1 Oh that thou were as my brother, who sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee outside, I would kiss thee. Yes, and none would despise me.
2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake love, until it please.
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awoke thee. There thy mother was in travail with thee. There she who brought thee forth was in travail.
6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm. For love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as Sheol. The flashes of it are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame. (Sheol )
7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.
8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like the towers. Then I was in his eyes as one who found peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He let out the vineyard to keepers. Every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. Thou, O Solomon, shall have the thousand, and those who keep the fruit of it, two hundred.
13 Thou who dwell in the gardens, the companions hearken for thy voice. Cause me to hear it.
14 Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
