Song of Solomon 8

1 O that thou [wert] as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! [when] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.

I wish that you were like my brother, who nursed at my mother's breasts. Then whenever I met you outside, I could kiss you, and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead thee, [and] bring thee into my mother’s house, [who] would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

I would lead you and bring you into my mother's house— she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink and some of the juice of my pomegranates.

3 His left hand [should be] under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

His left hand is under my head and his right hand embraces me.

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

I want you to swear, daughters of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our lovemaking until it is over.

5 Who [is] this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth [that] bare thee.

Who is this who is coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? The woman speaking to the man I awakened you under the apricot tree; there your mother conceived you; there she gave birth to you, she delivered you.

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave: the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement flame. (Sheol h7585)

Set me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death. Passionate devotion is as unrelenting as Sheol; its flames burst out; it is a blazing flame, a flame hotter than any other fire. (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.

Surging waters cannot quench love, nor can floods sweep it away. If a man gave all the possessions in his house for love, the offer would utterly be despised.

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, and her breasts have not yet grown. What can we do for our sister on the day when she will be promised in marriage?

9 If she [be] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she [be] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

If she is a wall, we will build on her a tower of silver. If she is a door, we will adorn 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 was a wall, but my breasts are now like fortress towers; so I am in his eyes as one who brings 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 [pieces] of silver.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He gave the vineyard to those who would maintain it. Each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

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

My vineyard, my very own, is before me; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and the two hundred shekels are for those who maintain its fruit.

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

You who live in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.

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

Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.