Song of Solomon 8

1 Oh that you were like my brother,
who nursed from the breasts of my mother!
If I found you outside, I would kiss you;
yes, and no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house,
who would instruct me.
I would have you drink spiced wine,
of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand would be under my head.
His right hand would embrace me.

4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,
that you not stir up, nor awaken love,
until it so desires.

Friends
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?

Under the apple tree I aroused you.
There your mother conceived you.
There she was in labor and bore you.

6 Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm;
for love is strong as death.
Jealousy is as cruel as Sheolt.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a very flame of Yahweh.t
7 Many waters can’t quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love,
he would be utterly scorned.

Friends
8 We have a little sister.
She has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
in the day when she is to be spoken for?

9 If she is a wall,
we will build on her a turret of silver.
if she is a door,
we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

Beloved
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers,
then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.
He leased out the vineyard to keepers.
Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 My own vineyard is before me.
The thousand are for you, Solomon;
two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

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

Beloved
14 Come away, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag on 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.