Song of Solomon 8

1 Oh that you were my brother, who took milk from my mother's breasts! When I came to you in the street, I would give you kisses; yes, I would not be looked down on.

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 take you by the hand into my mother's house, and she would be my teacher. I would give you drink of spiced wine, drink of the pomegranate.

I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, 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, and his right hand about me.

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

4 I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not let love be moved till it is ready.

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

5 Who is this, who comes up from the waste places, resting on her loved one? It was I who made you awake under the apple-tree, where your mother gave you birth; there she was in pain at your birth.

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Beloved Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labour and bore you.

6 Put me as a sign on your heart, as a sign on your arm; love is strong as death, and wrath bitter as the underworld: its coals are coals of fire; violent are its flames. (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 Much water may not put out love, or the deep waters overcome it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would be judged a price not great enough.

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 young sister, and she has no breasts; what are we to do for our sister in the day when she is given to a man?

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 make on her a strong base of silver; and if she is a door, we will let her be shut up with cedar-wood.

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 are like towers; then was I in his eyes as one to whom good chance had come.

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

11 Solomon had a vine-garden at Baal-hamon; he let out the vine-garden to keepers; every one had to give a thousand bits of silver for its fruit.

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 vine-garden, which is mine, is before me: you, O Solomon, will have the thousand, and those who keep the fruit of them two hundred.

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

13 You who have your resting-place in the gardens, the friends give ear to your voice; make me give ear to it.

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

14 Come quickly, my loved one, and be like a roe on the mountains of spice.

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