Song of Solomon 8
1 I wish you were like my brother who fed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.
2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house; she is the one who taught me.
I would give you a drink of spiced wine from my pomegranates.
The Woman Speaks to the Friends
3 My lover’s left hand is under my head, and his right arm holds me tight.
4 Women of Jerusalem, promise not to awaken
or excite my feelings of love until it is ready.
The Friends Speak
5 Who is this coming out of the desert, leaning on her lover?
I woke you under the apple tree where you were born; there your mother gave birth to you.
The Man Speaks to the Woman
6 Put me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm.
Love is as strong as death; jealousy is as strong as the grave.
Love bursts into flames and burns like a hot fire.
7 Even much water cannot put out the flame of love; floods cannot drown love.
If a man offered everything in his house for love, people would totally reject it.
The Woman’s Brothers Speak
8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown.
What should we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?
9 If she is a wall, we will put silver towers on her.
If she is a door, we will protect her with cedar boards.
The Woman Speaks
10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers.
So I was to him, as one who brings happiness.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He rented the vineyards for others to tend,
and everyone who rented had to pay twenty-five pounds of silver for the fruit.
12 But my own vineyard is mine to give. Solomon, the twenty-five pounds of silver are for you, and five pounds are for those who tend the fruit.
The Man Speaks to the Woman
13 You who live in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice; let me hear it.
The Woman Speaks to the Man
14 Hurry, my lover, be like a gazelle
or a young deer on the mountains where spices grow.
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.