Song of Solomon 8

1O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.footnote a

2I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

3His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

4I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.footnote b

5Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

6Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.footnote c

7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

8We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

9If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.footnote d

11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

13Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.

14Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.footnote e

Longing for Her Beloved

1O that you were to me like a brotherwho nursed at my mother’s breasts!If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you,and no one would despise me. 2I would lead you and bring youto the house of my mother who taught me.I would give you spiced wine to drink,the nectar of my pomegranates.

3His left hand is under my head,and his right arm embraces me. 4O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you:Do not arouse or awaken loveuntil the time is right.

The Friends

5Who is this coming up from the wilderness,leaning on her beloved?The BrideI roused you under the apple tree;there your mother conceived you;there she travailed and brought you forth.

6Set me as a seal over your heart,as a seal upon your arm.For love is as strong as death,its jealousyfootnote aas unrelenting as Sheol.Its sparks are fiery flames,the fiercest blaze of all. 7Mighty waters cannot quench love;rivers cannot sweep it away.If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love,his offer would be utterly scorned.

The Friends

8We have a little sister,and her breasts are not yet grown.What shall we do for our sisteron the day she is spoken for? 9If she is a wall,we will build a tower of silver upon her.If she is a door,we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

The Bride

10I am a wall,and my breasts are like towers.So I have become in his eyeslike one who brings peace. 11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon.He leased it to the tenants.For its fruit, each was to bringa thousand shekels of silver.footnote b 12But my own vineyard is mine to give;the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon,and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

The Bridegroom

13You who dwell in the gardens,my companions are listening for your voice.Let me hear it!

The Bride

14Come away, my beloved,and be like a gazelleor a young stagon the mountains of spices.