Longing for Her Beloved

8 Oh that you were like a brother to me

who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

If I found you outside, I would kiss you,

and none would despise me.

2  I would lead you and rbring you

into the house of my mother—

she who used to teach me.

I would give you sspiced wine to drink,

the juice of my pomegranate.

3  tHis left hand is under my head,

and his right hand embraces me!

4  I uadjure you, O vdaughters of Jerusalem,

wthat you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

5  xWho is that coming up from the wilderness,

leaning on her beloved?

Under the apple tree I awakened you.

There your mother was in labor with you;

there she who bore you was in labor.

6  Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as ya seal upon your arm,

for zlove is strong as death,

ajealousy1 is fierce as the grave.2

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

the very bflame of the Lord.

7  Many waters cannot quench love,

neither can floods drown it.

If a man offered for love

all the wealth of his chouse,

he3 would be utterly despised.

Final Advice

Others

8  We have a little sister,

and she dhas 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 enclose her with eboards of cedar.

She

10  fI was a wall,

and my gbreasts were like towers;

then I was in his eyes

as one who finds4 peace.

11  Solomon had ha vineyard at Baal-hamon;

he ilet out the vineyard to jkeepers;

each one was to bring for its fruit ka thousand pieces of silver.

12  My vineyard, my very own, is before me;

you, O Solomon, may have the thousand,

and lthe keepers of the fruit two hundred.

He

13  mO you who dwell in the gardens,

with ncompanions listening for your voice;

olet me hear it.

She

14  pMake haste, my beloved,

and be qlike a gazelle

or a young stag

on rthe mountains of spices.