Song of Solomon 8

1 O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.

3 His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

4 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth.

6 Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

7 Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver.

12 But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

13 You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!

14 Come away, 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 Baalhamon; 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 O that I might find thee, my brother, sucking my mother's breasts, out of doors, and kiss thee, that no man should mock me!

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, where thou shouldest teach me: and I would water thee with wine made, and with the juice of my pomegranates.

3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand is upon me.

4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up nor stir up my love, until ye yourselves be pleased.

5 Who is she that cometh up from the wilderness, and leaneth upon her friend? Under the apple tree I waked thee, When thy mother bare thee, When she that bare thee lay with thee.

6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, and as a seal upon thine arm. For love is strong as death, and zeal is firm as hell. Their embers are fiery, and a flame of the LORD,

7 That even much water may not quench love, nor the rivers drown it. If a man were to give all that is in his house for love, it would be worth nothing.

8 Our sister is small and has no breasts. What should we do to our sister, if one should address her now?

9 If it be a wall, let us build silver bulwarks upon it. If it be a door, let us strengthen it with cedar planks.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are as towers. There have I been before his eyes, as which finds peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baalhamon. And he gave the vineyard to the keepers, that every one might bring a thousand shekels of silver for the fruit thereof.

12 My vineyard is before me. To thee, Solomon, is due a thousand; but to the keepers, two hundred, with its fruit.

13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, let me hear thy voice: the companies take heed.

14 Flee, my friend, and be like a deer or young stag on the Würzberge.