Song of Solomon 8

8Oh, 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.

²I would lead you and bring you

Into the ^ahouse of my mother,

She who used to instruct me.

I would cause you to drink of ^bspiced wine,

Of the juice of my pomegranate.

^3cHis left hand is under my head,

And his right hand embraces me.

^4dI charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.

Love Renewed in Lebanon

^5eWho 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.

^6fSet me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For love is as strong as death,

^gJealousy as ¹cruel as ²the grave;

Its flames are flames of fire,

³A most vehement flame.

⁷Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

^hIf a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised.

⁸ⁱWe have a little sister,

And she has no breasts.

What shall we do for our sister

In the day when she is spoken for?

⁹If 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.

¹⁰I am a wall,

And my breasts like towers;

Then I became in his eyes

As one who found peace.

¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;

^jHe leased the vineyard to keepers;

Everyone was to bring for its fruit

A thousand silver coins.

¹²My own vineyard is before me.

You, O Solomon, may have a thousand,

And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

¹³You who dwell in the gardens,

The companions listen for your voice—

^kLet me hear it!

^14lMake ⁴haste, my beloved,

And ^mbe like a gazelle

Or a young stag

On the mountains of spices.