Song of Songs 8

1 I would that you, O my kinsman, were he that sucked the breasts of my mother; when I found you without, I would kiss you; yes, they should not despise me.

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 take you, I would bring you into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me; I would make you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranates.

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 have charged you, you daughters of Jerusalem, by the virtues of the field, that you 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 comes up all white, leaning on her kinsman? I raised you up under an apple tree; there your mother brought you forth; there she that bore you brought you forth.

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 your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave, her shafts are shafts of fire, [even] the flames thereof. (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 Much water will not be able to quench love, and rivers shall not drown it; if a man would give all his substance for love, [men] would utterly despise it.

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 Our sister is little, and has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister, in the day wherein 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 is a wall, let us build upon her silver bulwarks; and if she is a door, let us carve for her cedar panels.

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 are as towers; I was in their eyes as one that found peace.

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 in Beelamon; he let his vineyard to keepers; every one was to bring for its fruit 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, even mine, is before me; Solomon [shall have] a thousand, and they that keep its fruit 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 You that dwell in the gardens, the companions listen to your voice: make me hear [it].

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

14 Away, my kinsman, and be like a doe or a fawn on the mountains of spices.

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