Song of Solomon 8
1 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.
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 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.
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 He supports my head with his left hand, and holds me close with his right.
His left hand under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4 Women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you won't disturb our love until the right time.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake love, until it please.
5 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.
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 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)
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 h7585)
7 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.
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 younger sister whose breasts are still small. What shall we do for our sister when someone asks to marry her?
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 a silver tower on it. But if she is a door, we will bar the way with cedar planks.
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 are like towers. So when he looks at me he's happy!
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 which he leased to tenant farmers. Each of them paid him one thousand silver coins for the fruit it produced.
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 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.
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 My darling, sitting there in the gardens with companions listening to you—please talk to me!
Thou who dwell in the gardens, the companions hearken for thy voice. Cause me to hear it.
14 Come quickly, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.
