< Song of Solomon 8 >
1 Oh that you were like my brother, who sucked the breasts of my mother. If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.
O that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breast of my mother! When I found thee abroad, I might kiss thee; And for it no one would deride me.
2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.
I will lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, that thou mayst teach me; I will give thee spiced wine to drink, and the juice of my pomegranates.
3 His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraceth me.
4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
[[Lov.]] I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem! That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Till she please!
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
[[Lad.]] Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? [[M.]] Under the apple-tree I awakened thee; There thy mother brought thee forth; There she that bore thee brought thee forth!
6 Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of YHWH. (Sheol )
O set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm! For love is strong as death; True love is firm as the grave: Its flames are flames of fire, The fire of Jehovah. (Sheol )
7 Many waters can't quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.
Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can floods drown it. Would a man give all the wealth of his house for love, It would be utterly contemned.
8 We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?
[[Br.]] We have a sister who is yet young; She is yet without breasts. What shall we do with our sister, When she shall be spoken for?
9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
If she be a wall, We will build upon it a silver tower; If she be an open gate, We will inclose her with planks of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
[[Sis.]] I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Therefore am I become in his eyes as one that findeth peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He let out the vineyard to keepers; Every one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
My vineyard is before my eyes. Be thine the thousand, O Solomon! And two hundred to the keepers of its fruit!
13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice.
[[Lov.]] Thou that dwellest in the gardens! Friends listen to thy voice; Let me hear thee!
14 Come away, my beloved. Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Fly, my beloved! like a gazelle, or a young hind, Upon the mountains of spices.