Add parallel Print Page Options

O, that you were like a brother to me,
    who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outside, I would kiss you,
    and no one would despise me.
I would lead you
    and bring you into my mother’s house—
    she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink
    from the nectar of my pomegranate.
O that his left hand were under my head,
    and his right hand embraced me.

I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem,
    Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so delights.

Protecting Love

Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her lover?
Under the apple tree I roused you.
    There your mother travailed with you.
There she who was in labor gave you birth.
Set me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
    jealousy as cruel as Sheol.
Its flames are bolts of fire,
    the flame of Adonai.
Many waters cannot quench love,
    nor rivers wash it away.
If one gave all the wealth of his house for love,
    it would be utterly despised.

We have a little sister,
    still without 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 turret of silver.
If she is a door,
    we will fence her in with cedar plank.

10 I am a wall,
    and my breasts like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
    as one bringing shalom.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon.
He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers.
Each was to bring for his fruit
    a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My very own vineyard is before me.
The thousand are for you, Solomon,
    and two hundred for those
    who tend the fruit.

13 You who abide in the gardens,
    friends are listening for your voice.
Let me hear it!

14 Come quickly, my beloved,
    and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

If 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.
I would lead you
    and bring you to my mother’s house(A)
    she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
    the nectar of my pomegranates.
His left arm is under my head
    and his right arm embraces me.(B)
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.(C)

Friends

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

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(E) 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(F) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](G) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]
Many waters cannot quench love;
    rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
    all the wealth of one’s house for love,
    it[c] would be utterly scorned.(H)

Friends

We 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?
If 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

10 I am a wall,
    and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
    like one bringing contentment.
11 Solomon had a vineyard(I) in Baal Hamon;
    he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
    a thousand shekels[d](J) of silver.
12 But my own vineyard(K) is mine to give;
    the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
    and two hundred[e] are for those who tend its fruit.

He

13 You who dwell in the gardens
    with friends in attendance,
    let me hear your voice!

She

14 Come away, my beloved,
    and be like a gazelle(L)
or like a young stag(M)
    on the spice-laden mountains.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
  2. Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord
  3. Song of Songs 8:7 Or he
  4. Song of Songs 8:11 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
  5. Song of Songs 8:12 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms