Song of Solomon 8

1 O that you were as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find you without, I would kiss you; yea, I should not be despised.

Oh that you were like my brother, who sucked 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, and bring you into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause you to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

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

His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

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

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

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

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 upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which has a most vehement flame. (Sheol h7585)

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 Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD. (Sheol h7585)

7 Many 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

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

My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

13 You that dwell in the gardens, the companions hearken to your voice: cause me to hear it.

You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice.

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

Come away, my beloved. Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.