< Song of Solomon 8 >

1 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.
Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.
2 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.
I would lead thee, bring thee into my mother's house; Thou wouldest instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me.
His left hand would be under my head, And his right hand embrace me.
4 I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our lovemaking until it is over.
I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, ...Why should ye stir up, why awake [my] love, till he please?
5 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.
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awoke thee under the apple-tree: There thy mother brought thee forth; There she brought thee forth [that] bore thee.
6 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)
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 thereof are flashes of fire, Flames of Jah. (Sheol h7585)
7 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.
Many waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.
8 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?
We have a little sister, And she hath 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 on her a tower of silver. If she is a door, we will adorn her with boards of cedar.
If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
10 I was a wall, but my breasts are now like fortress towers; so I am in his eyes as one who brings peace.
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.
11 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.
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.
12 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.
My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand [silver-pieces] be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred.
13 You who live in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Let me hear [it].
14 Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Haste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.

< Song of Solomon 8 >