[a]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor waken my love until she please.

(Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her well-beloved?) I raised thee up under an apple tree: there the mother conceived thee: there she conceived that bare thee.

[b]Set me as a seal on thine heart, and as a signet upon thine arm: for love is strong as death: jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are fiery coals, and a vehement flame.

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:4 Read Song 3:5.
  2. Song of Solomon 8:6 The spouse desireth Christ to be joined in perpetual love with him.

Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.(A)

Friends

Who is this coming up from the wilderness(B)
    leaning on her beloved?

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(C) you,
    there she who was in labor gave you birth.
Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love(D) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](E) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
  2. Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord