Song of Solomon 8

1 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 bring you

into the house of my mother—

she who used to teach me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand is under my head,

and his right hand embraces me!

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

that you not stir up or awaken love

until it pleases.

5 Who 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 a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

jealousy is fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

the very flame 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 house,

he would be utterly despised.

8 We 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 enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I was a wall,

and my breasts were like towers;

then I was in his eyes

as one who finds peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

he let out the vineyard to keepers;

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

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

you, O Solomon, may have the thousand,

and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.

13 O you who dwell in the gardens,

with companions listening for your voice;

let me hear it.

14 Make haste, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or a young stag

on the mountains of spices.

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.

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,

Leaning upon her beloved?

I raised thee up under the apple tree:

There thy mother brought thee forth:

There she brought thee forth that bare thee.

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart,

As a seal upon thine arm:

For love is strong as death;

Jealousy is cruel as the grave:

The coals thereof are coals of fire,

Which hath a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

Neither can the floods drown it:

If a man would give all the substance of his house for love,

It would utterly be contemned.

8 We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts:

What shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

9 If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver:

And if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers:

Then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

He let out the vineyard unto keepers;

Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me:

Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand,

And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens,

The companions hearken to thy voice:

Cause me to hear it.

14 Make haste, my beloved,

And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart

Upon the mountains of spices.

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.

5 Who is this sweeping in from the desert,

leaning on her lover?

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 as enduring as the grave.

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 love

with all his wealth,

his offer would be utterly scorned.

8 We have a little sister

too young to have breasts.

What will we do for our sister

if 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.

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.

11 Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon,

which he leases out to tenant farmers.

Each of them pays a thousand pieces 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 pieces

to those who care for its vines.

13 O my darling, lingering in the gardens,

your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.

Let me hear it, too!

14 Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle

or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

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.

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness,

Leaning upon her beloved?

I awakened you under the apple tree.

There your mother brought you forth;

There she who bore you brought you forth.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For love is as strong as death,

Jealousy as cruel as the grave;

Its flames are flames of fire,

A most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

If a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised.

8 We have a little sister,

And she has no breasts.

What shall we do for our sister

In the day when she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall,

We will build upon her

A battlement of silver;

And if she is a door,

We will enclose her

With boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall,

And my breasts like towers;

Then I became in his eyes

As one who found peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;

He leased the vineyard to keepers;

Everyone was to bring for its fruit

A thousand silver coins.

12 My own vineyard is before me.

You, O Solomon, may have a thousand,

And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

13 You who dwell in the gardens,

The companions listen for your voice—

Let me hear it!

14 Make haste, my beloved,

And be like a gazelle

Or a young stag

On the mountains of spices.

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.

5 Who is this coming out of the desert,

leaning on her lover?

I woke you under the apple tree

where you were born;

there your mother gave birth to you.

6 Put me like a seal on your heart,

like a seal on your arm.

Love is as strong as death;

jealousy is as strong as the grave.

Love bursts into flames

and burns like a hot fire.

7 Even much water cannot put out the flame of love;

floods cannot drown love.

If a man offered everything in his house for love,

people would totally reject it.

8 We have a little sister,

and her breasts are not yet grown.

What should we do for our sister

on the day she becomes engaged?

9 If she is a wall,

we will put silver towers on her.

If she is a door,

we will protect her with cedar boards.

10 I am a wall,

and my breasts are like towers.

So I was to him,

as one who brings happiness.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.

He rented the vineyards for others to tend,

and everyone who rented had to pay

twenty-five pounds of silver for the fruit.

12 But my own vineyard is mine to give.

Solomon, the twenty-five pounds of silver are for you,

and five pounds are for those who tend the fruit.

13 You who live in the gardens,

my friends are listening for your voice;

let me hear it.

14 Hurry, my lover,

be like a gazelle

or a young deer

on the mountains where spices grow.

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.

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness,

Leaning upon her beloved?

Under the apple-tree I awakened thee:

There thy mother was in travail with thee,

There was she in travail that brought thee forth.

6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart,

As a seal upon thine arm:

For love is strong as death;

Jealousy is cruel as Sheol;

The flashes thereof are flashes of fire,

A very flame of Jehovah.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

Neither can floods drown it:

If a man would give all the substance of his house for love,

He would utterly be contemned.

8 We have a little sister,

And she hath no breasts:

What shall we do for our sister

In the day when she shall be spoken for?

9 If she be a wall,

We will build upon her a turret of silver:

And if she be a door,

We will inclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like the towers thereof

Then was I in his eyes as one that found peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

He let out the vineyard unto keepers;

Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me:

Thou, O Solomon, shalt have the thousand,

And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens,

The companions hearken for thy voice:

Cause me to hear it.

14 Make haste, my beloved,

And be thou like to a roe or to a young hart

Upon the mountains of spices.

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?

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awoke thee under the apple-tree: There thy mother brought thee forth; There she brought thee forth that bore thee. 6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol: The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, Flames of Jah. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.

8 We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for? — 9 If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. 10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace. 11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces. 12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand silver-pieces be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred.

13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Let me hear it. 14 Haste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.

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! 

5 Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness 

with her arm around her beloved? 

Under the apple tree I woke you up. 

There your mother went into labor with you. 

There she went into labor 

and gave birth to you! 

6 Wear me as a signet ring on your heart, 

as a ring on your hand. 

Love is as overpowering as death. 

Devotion is as unyielding as the grave. 

Love’s flames are flames of fire, 

flames that come from the Lord. 

7 Raging water cannot extinguish love, 

and rivers will never wash it away. 

If a man exchanged all his family’s wealth for love, 

people would utterly despise him. 

8 We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. 

What will we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged? 

9 If she is a wall, we will build a silver barrier around her. 

If she is a door, we will barricade her with cedar boards. 

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. 

So he considers me to be one who has found peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. 

He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers. 

Each one was to bring 25 pounds of silver 

in exchange for its fruit. 

12 My own vineyard is in front of me. 

That 25 pounds is yours, Solomon, 

and 5 pounds go to those who take care of its fruit. 

13 Young woman living in the gardens, 

while your friends are listening to your voice, 

let me hear.… 

14 Come away quickly, my beloved. 

Run like a gazelle or a young stag 

on the mountains of spices. 

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.

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness,

leaning on the one she loves?

I awakened you under the apricot tree.

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.

For love is as strong as death;

ardent love is as unrelenting as Sheol.

Love’s flames are fiery flames —

the fiercest of all.

7 Mighty waters cannot extinguish love;

rivers cannot sweep it away.

If a man were to give all his wealth for love,

it would be utterly scorned.

8 Our sister is young;

she has no breasts.

What will we do for our sister

on the day she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall,

we will build a silver parapet on it.

If she is a door,

we will enclose it with cedar planks.

10 I am a wall

and my breasts like towers.

So in his eyes I have become

like one who finds peace.

11 Solomon owned a vineyard in Baal-hamon.

He leased the vineyard to tenants.

Each was to bring for his fruit

1,000 pieces of silver.

12 I have my own vineyard.

The 1,000 are for you, Solomon,

but 200 for those who guard its fruits.

13 You who dwell in the gardens—

companions are listening for your voice—

let me hear you!

14 Hurry to me, my love,

and be like a gazelle

or a young stag

on the mountains of spices.

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 my mother’s house

and into the chamber of the one who bore me.

I would give you spiced wine to drink,

from the juice of my pomegranates.

3 O that his left hand were under my head

and that his right hand embraced me!

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

do not stir up or awaken love

until it is ready!

5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness,

leaning upon 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 a seal upon your arm,

for love is strong as death,

passion fierce as the grave.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

a raging flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

neither can floods drown it.

If one offered for love

all the wealth of one’s house,

it would be utterly scorned.

8 We 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 upon her a battlement of silver,

but if she is a door,

we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I was a wall,

and my breasts were like towers;

then I was in his eyes

as one who brings peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

he entrusted the vineyard to keepers;

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

12 My vineyard, my very own, is for myself;

you, O Solomon, may have the thousand

and the keepers of the fruit two hundred!

13 O you who dwell in the gardens,

my companions are listening for your voice;

let me hear it.

14 Make haste, my beloved,

and be like a gazelle

or a young stag

upon the mountains of spices!

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!

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness,

leaning upon her beloved?

Under the apple tree I awakened you;

there your mother conceived you;

there she who was in labor gave birth to you.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm;

for love is strong as death;

passion is fierce as Sheol;

its flashes are flashes of fire;

it is a blazing flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot sweep it away.

If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love,

he would be utterly scorned.

8 We have a little sister,

and she does not yet have any breasts.

What should we do for our sister

on the day when she is betrothed?

9 If she is a wall,

we will adorn her with a turret of silver;

but if she is a door,

we will barricade her with boards of cedar.

10 I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers,

so my betrothed viewed me with great delight.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

he entrusted his vineyard to the keepers;

people paid a thousand silver pieces for its fruit.

12 My own “vineyard” belongs to me;

the “thousand” are for you, O Solomon,

and “two hundred” for those who tend its fruit.

13 O you who dwell in the garden,

my companions are listening to your voice.

Let me hear it!

14 Flee, my beloved!

Be like a gazelle or a young stag

upon the perfumed mountains!

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,

5 “Who is this woman coming up from the desert?

She’s leaning on the one who loves her.”

The woman says to the king,

“Under the apple tree I woke you up.

That’s where your mother became pregnant with you.

She went into labor, and you were born there.

6 Hold me close to your heart like the seal around your neck.

Keep me close to yourself like the ring on your finger.

My love for you is so strong it won’t let you go.

Love is as powerful as death.

Love’s jealousy is as strong as the grave.

Love is like a blazing fire.

It burns like a mighty flame.

7 No amount of water can put it out.

Rivers can’t drown it.

Suppose someone offers

all of his wealth to buy love.

That won’t even come close to being enough.”

The woman’s brothers say,

8 “We have a little sister.

Her breasts are still small.

What should we do for our sister

when she gets engaged?

9 If she were a wall,

we’d build silver towers on her.

If she were a door,

we’d cover her with cedar boards.”

The woman says to the king,

10 “I am a wall.

My breasts are like well-built towers.

So in your eyes I’ve become

like someone who makes you happy.

11 Solomon, you had a vineyard in Baal Hamon.

You rented your vineyard to others.

They had to pay 25 pounds

of silver for its fruit.

12 But I can give my own vineyard to anyone I want to.

So I give my 25 pounds of silver to you, Solomon.

Give 5 pounds to those who take care of its fruit.”

The king says,

13 “My love, you live in the gardens.

My friends listen for your voice.

But let me hear it now.”

The woman says,

14 “Come away with me, my love.

Be like an antelope

or like a young deer

on mountains that are full of spices.”

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.”

5 “Who is this coming up from the wilderness

Leaning on her beloved?”

“Beneath the apple 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 a seal over your heart,

Like a seal on your arm.

For love is as strong as death,

Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

The 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 “We 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 “I 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 is at my disposal;

The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,

And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

13 “O you who sit in the gardens,

My companions are listening for your voice—

Let me hear it!”

14 “Hurry, my beloved,

And be like a gazelle or a young stag

On the mountains of spices.”