Song of Solomon 8

1 O that thou wert as my brother, that was nourished at the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee outside, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.

Bride to Groom: Who will give you to me as my brother, feeding from the breasts of my mother, so that I may discover you outside, and may kiss you, and so that now no one may 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 will take hold of you and lead you into my mother’s house. There you will teach me, and I will give you a cup of spiced wine, and of new wine from 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 shall embrace me.

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

Groom to Chorus: I bind you by oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, not to disturb or awaken the beloved, until she wills.

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

Chorus to Groom: Who is she, who ascends from the desert, flowing with delights, leaning upon her beloved? Groom to Bride: Under the apple tree, I awakened you. There your mother was corrupted. There she who bore you was violated.

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

Set me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm. For love is strong, like death, and envy is enduring, like hell: their lamps are made of fire and flames. (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 despised.

A multitude of waters cannot extinguish love, nor can a river overwhelm it. If a man were to give all the substance of his house in exchange for love, he would despise it as nothing.

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?

Chorus: Our sister is little and has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is called upon?

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

If she is a wall, let us build a rampart of silver upon it. If she is a door, let us join it together 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.

Bride to Chorus: I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers, since, in his presence, I have become like one who has discovered peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

The peaceful one had a vineyard, in that which held the peoples. He handed it on to the caretakers; a man brought, in exchange for its fruit, a thousand pieces of silver.

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

Groom: My vineyard is before me. The thousand is for your peacefulness, and two hundred is for those who care for its fruit.

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

Bride to Groom: Your friends are attentive to those who have been dwelling in the gardens. Cause me to heed your voice.

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

Flee away, my beloved, and become like the doe and the young stag upon the mountains of aromatic plants.