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The Woman’s Brothers Speak

We have a ·little [small] sister,
    and ·her breasts are not yet grown [L she has no breasts].
What should we do for our sister
    on the day she ·becomes engaged [L is spoken for; C brothers were in charge of marriage negotiations]?
If she is a wall [C chaste],
    we will put silver towers on her [C support and honor her].
If she is a door [C promiscuous],
    we will ·protect [enclose] her with cedar boards [C put a stop to her sexual activity].

The Woman Speaks

10 I am a wall [C chaste],
    and my breasts are like towers [C she is mature].
So I ·was to him [or will be in his eyes],
    as one who brings ·happiness [peace; contentment].

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The Chorus

“We have a little sister,
And she (A)has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with (B)planks of cedar.”

The Bride

10 “I was a wall, and (C)my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

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