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Friends of the Woman

Who is that coming up from the wilderness,
    leaning upon her beloved?

The Woman

Under the apple tree I awakened you.
    There your mother was in labor with you;
    there she who bore you was in labor.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
    as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
    passion fierce as the grave.
Its fires of desire are as ardent flames,
    a most intense flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
    neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
    all the wealth of his house,
    it would be utterly condemned.

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Friends

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

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(B) 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(C) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](D) 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.(E)

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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