1 If only you were to me like a brother,

who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!

Then, if I found you outside,

I would kiss you,

and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead you

and bring you to my mother’s house—

she who has taught me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the nectar of my pomegranates.

3 His left arm is under my head

and his right arm embraces me.

4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:

Do not arouse or awaken love

until it so desires.

1 O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother!

When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee;

Yea, I should not be despised.

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.

3 His left hand should be under my head,

And his right hand should embrace me.

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

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.

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.

4 Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,

not to awaken love until the time is right.

1 Oh, that you were like my brother,

Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

If I should find you outside,

I would kiss you;

I would not be despised.

2 I would lead you and bring you

Into the house of my mother,

She who used to instruct me.

I would cause you to drink of spiced wine,

Of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand is under my head,

And his right hand embraces me.

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.

1 I wish you were like my brother

who fed at my mother’s breasts.

If I found you outside,

I would kiss you,

and no one would look down on me.

2 I would lead you and bring you

to my mother’s house;

she is the one who taught me.

I would give you a drink of spiced wine

from my pomegranates.

3 My lover’s left hand is under my head,

and his right arm holds me tight.

4 Women of Jerusalem,

promise not to awaken

or excite my feelings of love

until it is ready.

1 Oh that thou wert as my brother,

That sucked the breasts of my mother!

When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee;

Yea, and none would 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.

3 His left hand should be under my head,

And his right hand should embrace me.

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

That ye stir not up, nor awake my love,

Until he please.

1 Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me. 2 I would lead thee, bring thee into my mother’s house; Thou wouldest instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand would be under my head, And his right hand embrace me. 4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, …Why should ye stir up, why awake my love, till he please?

1 If only you were my brother, 

one who nursed at my mother’s breasts. 

If I saw you on the street, 

I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me. 

2 I would lead you. 

I would bring you into my mother’s house. 

(She is the one who was my teacher.) 

I would give you some spiced wine to drink, 

some juice squeezed from my pomegranates. 

3 His left hand is under my head. 

His right hand caresses me. 

4 Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me 

that you will not awaken love 

or arouse love before its proper time! 

1 If only I could treat you like my brother,

one who nursed at my mother’s breasts,

I would find you in public and kiss you,

and no one would scorn me.

2 I would lead you, I would take you,

to the house of my mother who taught me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink

from my pomegranate juice.

3 His left hand is under my head,

and his right arm embraces me.

4 Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you:

do not stir up or awaken love

until the appropriate time.

1 O that you were like a brother to me,

who nursed at my mother’s breast!

If I met you outside, I would kiss you,

and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead you and bring you

into the house of my mother,

and into the chamber of the one who bore me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the juice of my pomegranates.

3 O that his left hand were under my head,

and that his right hand embraced me!

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

do not stir up or awaken love

until it is ready!

1 How I wish that you were my little brother,

who nursed upon my mother’s breasts!

If I met you outside, I would kiss you,

and no one would despise me!

2 I would surely bring you to the house of my mother,

who would surely teach me;

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the sweet wine of my pomegranates.

3 His left hand is under my head,

and his right hand embraces me.

4 I adjure you, O maidens of Jerusalem,

do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!

1 “I wish you were like a brother to me.

I wish my mother’s breasts had nursed you.

Then if I found you outside,

I could kiss you.

No one would look down on me.

2 I’d bring you to my mother’s house.

She taught me everything I know.

I’d give you spiced wine to drink.

It’s the juice of my pomegranates.

3 Your left arm is under my head.

Your right arm is around me.

4 Women of Jerusalem, take an oath and make me a promise.

Don’t stir up love.

Don’t wake it up until it’s ready.”

The other women say,

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 “I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem,

Do not arouse or awaken my love

Until she pleases.”