Song of Solomon 8 (New International Version)

Song of Solomon 8

 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.

Friends

 ⁵ Who is this coming up from the desert
       leaning on her lover?
      

Beloved

    Under the apple tree I roused you;
       there your mother conceived you,
       there she who was in labor gave you birth.

 ⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart,
       like a seal on your arm;
       for love is as strong as death,
       its jealousy ^[a] unyielding as the grave. ^[b]
       It burns like blazing fire,
       like a mighty flame. ^[c]

 ⁷ Many waters cannot quench love;
       rivers cannot wash it away.
       If one were to give
       all the wealth of his house for love,
       it ^[d] would be utterly scorned.

Friends

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

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

Beloved

 ¹⁰ I am a wall,
       and my breasts are like towers.
       Thus I have become in his eyes
       like one bringing contentment.

 ¹¹ Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
       he let out his vineyard to tenants.
       Each was to bring for its fruit
       a thousand shekels ^[e] of silver.

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

Lover

 ¹³ You who dwell in the gardens
       with friends in attendance,
       let me hear your voice!

Beloved

 ¹⁴ Come away, my lover,
       and be like a gazelle
       or like a young stag
       on the spice-laden mountains.