Song of Solomon 8
1 O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
Bride to Groom: Who will give you to me as my brother, feeding from the breasts of my mother, so that I may discover you outside, and may kiss you, and so that now no one may despise me?
2 I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.
I will take hold of you and lead you into my mother’s house. There you will teach me, and I will give you a cup of spiced wine, and of new wine from my pomegranates.
3 His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
His left hand is under my head, and his right hand shall embrace me.
4 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills.
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth.
Chorus to Groom: Who is she, who ascends from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? Groom to Bride: Under the apple tree, I awakened you. There your mother was corrupted. There she who bore you was violated.
6 Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. (Sheol h7585)
Set me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm. For love is strong, like death, and envy is enduring, like hell: their lamps are made of fire and flames. (Sheol h7585)
7 Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.
A multitude of waters cannot extinguish love, nor can a river overwhelm it. If a man were to give all the substance of his house in exchange for love, he would despise it as nothing.
8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
Chorus: Our sister is little and has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is called upon?
9 If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
If she is a wall, let us build a rampart of silver upon it. If she is a door, let us join it together with boards of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.
Bride to Chorus: I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers, since, in his presence, I have become like one who has discovered peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver.
The peaceful one had a vineyard, in that which held the peoples. He handed it on to the caretakers; a man brought, in exchange for its fruit, a thousand pieces of silver.
12 But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
Groom: My vineyard is before me. The thousand is for your peacefulness, and two hundred is for those who care for its fruit.
13 You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
Bride to Groom: Your friends are attentive to those who have been dwelling in the gardens. Cause me to heed your voice.
14 Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Flee away, my beloved, and become like the doe and the young stag upon the mountains of aromatic plants.
