Song of Solomon 8

1 Oh that some one would make thee as my brother that hath sucked my mother's breasts! should I then find thee without, I would kiss thee; and yet, people would not despise me.

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 I would lead thee, I would bring thee into my mother's house, thou shouldst teach me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, of the sweet 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 Oh that his left hand might be under my head, and that his right hand might embrace me.

His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me.

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, why will ye awaken, and why will ye excite my love, until it please [to come of itself]?—

I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our lovemaking until it is over.

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her friend?—Under the apple-tree have I waked thee up; there thy mother brought thee forth; there brought thee forth she that bore thee.

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 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm; for strong as death is love; violent like the nether world is jealousy; its heat is the heat of fire, a flame of God. (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 Many waters are not able to quench love, nor can the rivers flood it away: if a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, men would utterly despise him.—

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 little sister, and she hath yet no breasts: what shall we do for our sister on the day when she shall be spoken for?

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 be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.—

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: then was I in his eyes as one that found favor.

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 Ba'al-hamon; he had given up the vineyard unto the keepers; every one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.

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 My vineyard, which was mine, was before me: thine, O Solomon, be the thousand, and let two hundred be for those that keep its fruit.—

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 “Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions listen for thy voice: oh let me hear it.”

You who live in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.

14 Flee away, my friend, and be thou like the roebuck, or the fawn of the hinds, upon the mountain of spices.

Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.