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.
How I wish you were like a brother to me, one who nursed at my mother's breasts! Then if I met you on the street I could kiss you and no one would tell me off.
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.
Then I could take you home to my mother's house, where she used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
He supports my head with his left hand, and holds me close with his right.
4 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
Women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you won't disturb our love until the right time.
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.
Who is this coming in from the wilderness holding her love close to her? Woman: I woke you up under the apple tree where your mother conceived you, and where she gave birth to you.
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)
Stamp my name as a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is strong as death, passion as unyielding as the grave—its arrows flash like fire, a blazing flame of the Lord. (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.
Floods of water cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot submerge it. If a man offered everything he owned in order to buy love he would be completely rejected.
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?
We have a younger sister whose breasts are still small. What shall we do for our sister when someone asks to marry her?
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, we will build a silver tower on it. But if she is a door, we will bar the way with cedar planks.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.
I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So when he looks at me he's happy!
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.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon which he leased to tenant farmers. Each of them paid him one thousand silver coins for the fruit it produced.
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.
But I own my vineyard, it is mine alone. One thousand silver coins are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for those who look after it.
13 You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
My darling, sitting there in the gardens with companions listening to you—please talk to me!
14 Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Come quickly, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.
