1 “Oh that you were like a brother to me
Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;
No one would despise me, either. | |
2 “I would lead you and bring you
Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates. | |
3 “Let his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me.” | |
4 “a BRIDEGROOMI want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem,
b Or Why should you arouseDo not arouse or awaken my love
Untilc Or itshe pleases.” | |
5 “d CHORUSWho is this coming up from the wilderness
Leaning on her beloved?”
“e BRIDEBeneath thef Or apricotapple tree I awakened you;
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth. | |
6 “Put me like ag Or signetseal over your heart,
Like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
h Or Its ardor is as inflexibleJealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
i Another reading is A vehement flameThe very flame of the LORD. | |
7 “Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.” | |
8 “j CHORUSWe have a little sister,
And she has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for? | |
9 “If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with planks of cedar.” | |
10 “k BRIDEI was a wall, and my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace. | |
11 “Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers.
Each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. | |
12 “My very own vineyard isl Lit before meat my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.” | |
13 “m BRIDEGROOMO you who sit in the gardens,
My companions are listening for your voice—
Let me hear it!” | |
14 “n BRIDEo Lit FleeHurry, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle or a youngp Lit of the stagsstag
On the mountains of spices.” | |
