The Song of Solomon, 8

¹ “If only you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then if I found you outside, I would kiss you, And no one would despise me.

² I would lead you; I would bring you into the house of my mother, She who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, The fresh juice of pomegranates.

³ His left hand would be under my head, And his right hand would embrace me.

⁴ I put you under oath, O daughters of Jerusalem: Do not try to awaken or arouse love in me until it feels inclined.”

⁵ “Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her dear one?” “Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you. There she who gave birth to you was in labor.

⁶ Place me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm, For love is as strong as death is, And exclusive devotion is as unyielding as the Grave.^*1 Its flames are a blazing fire, the flame of Jah.^*2

⁷ Surging waters cannot extinguish love, Nor can rivers wash it away. If a man would offer all the wealth of his house for love, It^*1 would be utterly despised.”

⁸ “We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for?”

⁹ “If she is a wall, We will build upon her a battlement of silver, But if she is a door, We will board her up with a cedar plank.”

¹⁰ “I am a wall, And my breasts are like towers. So in his eyes I have become As one who finds peace.

¹¹ Solʹo·mon had a vineyard in Baʹal-haʹmon. He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each one would bring in a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.

¹² I have my own vineyard at my disposal. The thousand pieces of silver^*1 belong to you, O Solʹo·mon, And two hundred to those who care for its fruit.”

¹³ “O you who are dwelling in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice. Let me hear it.”

¹⁴ “Hurry, my dear one, And be swift like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of spices.”