< 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! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, and none would 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, and bring thee into my mother's house, that thou mightest 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 should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4 I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our lovemaking until it is over.
'I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem: Why should ye awaken, or stir up love, until it 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? Under the apple-tree I awakened thee; there thy mother was in travail with thee; there was she in travail and brought thee forth.
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 )
Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave; the flashes thereof are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD. (Sheol )
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 can the floods drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he 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 the towers thereof; then was I in his eyes as one that found 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 gave over the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof brought in a thousand pieces of silver.
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; thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof 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 for thy voice: 'Cause me to hear it.'
14 Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a gazelle or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.