Song of Solomon 8
1 Oh that you were my brother, who took milk from my mother's breasts! When I came to you in the street, I would give you kisses; yes, I would not be looked down on.
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.
2 I would take you by the hand into my mother's house, and she would be my teacher. I would give you drink of spiced wine, drink of the pomegranate.
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.
3 His left hand would be under my head, and his right hand about me.
His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
4 I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not let love be moved till it is ready.
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
5 Who is this, who comes up from the waste places, resting on her loved one? It was I who made you awake under the apple-tree, where your mother gave you birth; there she was in pain at your birth.
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.
6 Put me as a sign on your heart, as a sign on your arm; love is strong as death, and wrath bitter as the underworld: its coals are coals of fire; violent are its flames. (Sheol h7585)
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)
7 Much water may not put out love, or the deep waters overcome it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be judged a price not great enough.
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.
8 We have a young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man?
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?
9 If she is a wall, we will make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.
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.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; then was I in his eyes as one to whom good chance had come.
I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.
11 Solomon had a vine-garden at Baal-hamon; he let out the vine-garden to keepers; every one had to give a thousand bits of silver for its fruit.
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.
12 My vine-garden, which is mine, is before me: you, O Solomon, will have the thousand, and those who keep the fruit of them two hundred.
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.
13 You who have your resting-place in the gardens, the friends give ear to your voice; make me give ear to it.
You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
14 Come quickly, my loved one, and be like a roe on the mountains of spice.
Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
