如果你是我的同胞兄弟就好了。
这样,在外头遇见你,
我也可以亲吻你,
没有人会取笑我。
我可以把你带进我母亲的家——她教养了我。
我要给你喝石榴汁酿的醇酒。
你的左手扶着我的头,
右手紧抱着我。
耶路撒冷的少女啊,
我恳求你们,
不要叫醒或惊动爱情,
等它自发吧。

耶路撒冷的少女:

那从旷野上来、靠在良人身旁的是谁呢?

女子:

我在苹果树下唤醒你,
你母亲在那里怀你养你,
为你受生产之苦。
请把我印在你的心上,
刻在你的手臂上,
因为爱情如死亡一般坚固,
嫉妒像阴间一样残酷,
它燃起的火焰是烧灭一切的烈火。
爱情,大水不能熄灭,
江河不能淹没。
若有人想倾其家财买爱情,
必遭唾弃。

女子的兄长:

我们有一个小妹,
她的胸脯还没有发育。
若有人来提亲,
我们该怎么办?
她若是墙,
我们要在上面建造银塔;
她若是门,
我们要用香柏木板围护她。

女子:

10 我是一面墙,
双乳像城楼,
我在他眼中像找到平安的人。
11 所罗门在巴力·哈们有一个葡萄园,
他把葡萄园租给农夫,
租金是每人一千块银子。
12 我的葡萄园,我自己作主。
所罗门啊,你的一千块银子自己留着,
二百块银子给管果园的人。

男子:

13 你这住在园中的人啊,
同伴们都在聆听你的声音,
求你让我也听见吧!

女子:

14 我的良人啊,
愿你像香草山上的羚羊和小鹿,
快快来到我身边!

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.
I would lead you
    and bring you to my mother’s house(A)
    she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
    the nectar of my pomegranates.
His left arm is under my head
    and his right arm embraces me.(B)
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.(C)

Friends

Who is this coming up from the wilderness(D)
    leaning on her beloved?

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(E) you,
    there she who was in labor gave you birth.
Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love(F) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](G) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]
Many waters cannot quench love;
    rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
    all the wealth of one’s house for love,
    it[c] would be utterly scorned.(H)

Friends

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?
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.

She

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(I) in Baal Hamon;
    he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
    a thousand shekels[d](J) of silver.
12 But my own vineyard(K) is mine to give;
    the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
    and two hundred[e] are for those who tend its fruit.

He

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

She

14 Come away, my beloved,
    and be like a gazelle(L)
or like a young stag(M)
    on the spice-laden mountains.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
  2. Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord
  3. Song of Songs 8:7 Or he
  4. Song of Songs 8:11 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
  5. Song of Songs 8:12 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms

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.

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.

His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.