Song of Solomon 8
1. Young Woman 1 Oh, I wish you were my brother, 1 who nursed at my mother’s breasts. 1 Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, 1 and no one would criticize me.
2. I would bring you to my childhood home, 2 and there you would teach me.[a] 2 I would give you spiced wine to drink, 2 my sweet pomegranate wine.
3. Your left arm would be under my head, 3 and your right arm would embrace me.
4. Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, 4 not to awaken love until the time is right.[b]
5. Young Women of Jerusalem 5 Who is this sweeping in from the desert, 5 leaning on her lover? 5 Young Woman 5 I aroused you under the apple tree, 5 where your mother gave you birth, 5 where in great pain she delivered you.
6. Place me like a seal over your heart, 6 like a seal on your arm. 6 For love is as strong as death, 6 its jealousy[c] as enduring as the grave.[d] 6 Love flashes like fire, 6 the brightest kind of flame.
7. Many waters cannot quench love, 7 nor can rivers drown it. 7 If a man tried to buy love 7 with all his wealth, 7 his offer would be utterly scorned.
8. The Young Woman’s Brothers 8 We have a little sister 8 too young to have breasts. 8 What will we do for our sister 8 if someone asks to marry her?
9. If she is a virgin, like a wall, 9 we will protect her with a silver tower. 9 But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, 9 we will block her door with a cedar bar.
10. Young Woman 10 I was a virgin, like a wall; 10 now my breasts are like towers. 10 When my lover looks at me, 10 he is delighted with what he sees.
11. Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon, 11 which he leases out to tenant farmers. 11 Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver 11 for harvesting its fruit.
12. But my vineyard is mine to give, 12 and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. 12 But I will give two hundred pieces 12 to those who care for its vines.
13. Young Man 13 O my darling, lingering in the gardens, 13 your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. 13 Let me hear it, too!
14. Young Woman 14 Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle 14 or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
Footnotes:
a. 8:2: Or there she will teach me.
b. 8:4: Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
c. 8:6a: Or its passion.
d. 8:6b: Hebrew as Sheol.