The Lovers Speak

“Oh that you were like a brother to me
Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;
No one would despise me, either.
“I would lead you and (A)bring you
Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
“Let (B)his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me.”

[a](C)I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem,
[b]Do not arouse or awaken my love
Until [c]she pleases.”

[d](D)Who is this coming up from the wilderness
Leaning on her beloved?”

[e]Beneath the [f](E)apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.
“Put me like a [g]seal over your heart,
Like a (F)seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
[h](G)Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
[i]The very flame of the Lord.
“Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
(H)If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”

[j]We have a little sister,
And she (I)has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
“If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with (J)planks of cedar.”

10 [k]I was a wall, and (K)my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11 “Solomon had a (L)vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He (M)entrusted the vineyard to (N)caretakers.
Each one was to bring a (O)thousand shekels of silver for its (P)fruit.
12 “My very own vineyard is [l]at my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

13 [m]O you who sit in the gardens,
My (Q)companions are listening for your voice—
(R)Let me hear it!”

14 [n][o]Hurry, my beloved,
And be (S)like a gazelle or a young [p]stag
On the (T)mountains of spices.”

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:4 BRIDEGROOM
  2. Song of Solomon 8:4 Or Why should you arouse
  3. Song of Solomon 8:4 Or it
  4. Song of Solomon 8:5 CHORUS
  5. Song of Solomon 8:5 BRIDE
  6. Song of Solomon 8:5 Or apricot
  7. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or signet
  8. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or Its ardor is as inflexible
  9. Song of Solomon 8:6 Another reading is A vehement flame
  10. Song of Solomon 8:8 CHORUS
  11. Song of Solomon 8:10 BRIDE
  12. Song of Solomon 8:12 Lit before me
  13. Song of Solomon 8:13 BRIDEGROOM
  14. Song of Solomon 8:14 BRIDE
  15. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit Flee
  16. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit of the stags