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.
I wish that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts. Then whenever I met you outside, I could kiss you, and no one 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 you and bring you into my mother's house— she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink and some of the juice of my pomegranates.
3 He supports my head with his left hand, and holds me close with his right.
His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me.
4 Women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you won't disturb our love until the right time.
I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our lovemaking until it is over.
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 is coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? The woman speaking to the man I awakened you under the apricot tree; there your mother conceived you; there she gave birth to you, she delivered you.
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 over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death. Passionate devotion is as unrelenting as Sheol; its flames burst out; it is a blazing flame, a flame hotter than any other fire. (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.
Surging waters cannot quench love, nor can floods sweep it away. If a man gave all the possessions in his house for love, the offer would utterly be despised.
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 her breasts have not yet grown. What can we do for our sister on the day when she will be promised in marriage?
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 on her a tower of silver. If she is a door, we will adorn 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 was a wall, but my breasts are now like fortress towers; so I am in his eyes as one who brings 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 gave the vineyard to those who would maintain it. Each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
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, my very own, is before me; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and the two hundred shekels are for those who maintain its fruit.
13 My darling, sitting there in the gardens with companions listening to you—please talk to me!
You who live in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.
14 Come quickly, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.
Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
