Song of Solomon 8

¹If only you were to me like a brother,

who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!

Then, if I found you outside,

I would kiss you,

and no one would despise me.

²I would lead you

and bring you to my mother’s house—

she who has taught me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the nectar of my pomegranates.

³His left arm is under my head

and his right arm embraces me.

⁴Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until it so desires.

Friends

⁵Who is this coming up from the wilderness

leaning on her beloved?

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;

there your mother conceived you,

there she who was in labor gave you birth.

⁶Place me like a seal over your heart,

like a seal on your arm;

for love is as strong as death,

its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire,

like a mighty flame.

⁷Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot sweep it away.

If one were to give

all the wealth of one’s house for love,

it would be utterly scorned.

Friends

⁸We have a little sister,

and her breasts are not yet grown.

What shall we do for our sister

on the day she is spoken for?

⁹If she is a wall,

we will build towers of silver on her.

If she is a door,

we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

She

¹⁰I am a wall,

and my breasts are like towers.

Thus I have become in his eyes

like one bringing contentment.

¹¹Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;

he let out his vineyard to tenants.

Each was to bring for its fruit

a thousand shekels of silver.

¹²But my own vineyard is mine to give;

the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,

and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

He

¹³You who dwell in the gardens

with friends in attendance,

let me hear your voice!

She

¹⁴Come away, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or like a young stag

on the spice-laden mountains.