4 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you,

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time.a

Young Women

5 Who is thisb coming up from the wilderness,

leaning on the one she loves?

Woman

I awakened you under the apricot tree.c

There your mother conceived you;

there she conceived and gave you birth.

6 Set me as a seal on your heart,

as a seal on your arm.d

For love is as strong as death;e

jealousy is as unrelenting as Sheol.

Love’s flames are fiery flamesf—

an almighty flame!A