Song of Songs 8

Young Woman 1 Oh, I wish you were my brother,who nursed at my mother’s breasts.Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching,and no one would criticize me. 2 I would bring you to my childhood home,and there you would teach me. Or there she will teach me; or there she bore me.I would give you spiced wine to drink,my sweet pomegranate wine. 3 Your left arm would be under my head,and your right arm would embrace me.

4Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,not to awaken love until the time is right. Or not to awaken love until it is ready.

Young Women of Jerusalem 5 Who is this sweeping in from the desert,leaning on her lover?

Young Woman

I aroused you under the apple tree,where your mother gave you birth,where in great pain she delivered you. 6 Place me like a seal over your heart,like a seal on your arm.For love is as strong as death,its jealousy Or its passion. as enduring as the grave. Hebrew as Sheol.Love flashes like fire,the brightest kind of flame. 7 Many waters cannot quench love,nor can rivers drown it.If a man tried to buy lovewith all his wealth,his offer would be utterly scorned.

The Young Woman’s Brothers 8 We have a little sistertoo young to have breasts.What will we do for our sisterif someone asks to marry her? 9 If she is a virgin, like a wall,we will protect her with a silver tower.But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door,we will block her door with a cedar bar.

Young Woman 10 I was a virgin, like a wall;now my breasts are like towers.When my lover looks at me,he is delighted with what he sees.

11Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon,which he leases out to tenant farmers.Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver Hebrew 1,000 shekels of silver.for harvesting its fruit. 12 But my vineyard is mine to give,and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver.But I will give two hundred piecesto those who care for its vines.

Young Man 13 O my darling, lingering in the gardens,your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.Let me hear it, too!

Young Woman 14 Come away, my love! Be like a gazelleor a young stag on the mountains of spices.