Song of Solomon 8

1 Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.

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 thee, bring thee into my mother's house; Thou wouldest instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my 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 embrace me.

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

4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, ...Why should ye stir up, why awake [my] love, till 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 cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awoke thee under the apple-tree: There thy mother brought thee forth; There she brought thee forth [that] bore thee.

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 labor and bore you.

6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol: The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, Flames of Jah. (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 do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave 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 hath 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 turret 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 findeth peace.

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 let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.

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: The thousand [silver-pieces] be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred.

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

13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Let me hear [it].

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

14 Haste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or 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!