Song of Solomon 8

1 If only you were my brother,one who nursed at my mother’s breasts.If I saw you on the street,I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.2 I would lead you.I would bring you into my mother’s house.(She is the one who was my teacher.)I would give you some spiced wine to drink,some juice squeezed from my pomegranates.3 His left hand is under my head.His right hand caresses me.4 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to methat you will not awaken loveor arouse love before its proper time![The chorus of young women]

The Young Woman’s Love for Her Beloved

5 Who is this young woman coming from the wildernesswith her arm around her beloved?[Bride]Under the apple tree I woke you up.There your mother went into labor with you.There she went into laborand gave birth to you!6 Wear me as a signet ring on your heart,as a ring on your hand.Love is as overpowering as death.Devotion is as unyielding as the grave.Love’s flames are flames of fire,flames that come from the Lord.7 Raging water cannot extinguish love,and rivers will never wash it away.If a man exchanged all his family’s wealth for love,people would utterly despise him.[The brothers]

The Young Woman With Her Family and Her Beloved

8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts.What will we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?9 If she is a wall, we will build a silver barrier around her.If she is a door, we will barricade her with cedar boards.[Bride]10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers.So he considers me to be one who has found peace.t11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers.Each one was to bring 25 pounds of silverin exchange for its fruit.12 My own vineyard is in front of me.That 25 pounds is yours, Solomon,and 5 pounds go to those who take care of its fruit.[Groom]13 Young woman living in the gardens,while your friends are listening to your voice,let me hear. . . .[Bride]14 Come away quickly, my beloved.Run like a gazelle or a young stagon the mountains of spices.

Song of Solomon 8

The Beloved’s Wish Song

1 Oh, how I wish you weret my little brother,t
nursing at my mother’s breasts;
if I sawt you outside, I could kiss you –
surelyt no one would despise me!s

2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house,
the one who taught me.st
I would give yous spiced winest to drink,s
the nectar of my pomegranates.ss

Double Refrain: Embracing and Adjuration

3 His left hand caresses my head,
and his right hand stimulates me.t

4 I admonish you, O maidenst of Jerusalem:
“Do nott arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

The Awakening of Love

5 Who is this coming up from the desert,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I aroused you;s
there your mother conceived you,
there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth.t

The Nature of True Love

6 Set me like a cylinder seals over your heart,ts
like a signett on your arm.t
For love is as strong as death,s
passiont is as unrelentingt as Sheol.
Its flames burst forth,t
it is a blazing flame.t

7 Surging waters cannot quench love;
floodwaterst cannot overflow it.
If someone were to offer all his possessionst to buy love,t
the offert would be utterly despised.t

The Brother’s Plan and the Sister’s Reward

8 We have a little sister,
and as yet she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?s

9 If she is a wall,s
we will build on her a battlements of silver;
but if she is a door,
we will barricades her with boardst of cedar.s

10 I was a wall,
and my breasts were like fortress towers.s
Then I found favort in his eyes.t

Solomon’s Vineyard and the Beloved’s Vineyard

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon;
he leased outt the vineyard to those who maintained it.
Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

12 My vineyard,s which belongs to me,t is at my disposal alone.t
The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon,
and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.

Epilogue: The Lover’s Request and His Beloved’s Invitation

13 O you who stay in the gardens,
my companions are listening attentivelyt for your voice;
let me be the one tos hear it!t

14 Make haste, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.