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Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
    not to awaken love until the time is right.[a]

Young Women of Jerusalem

Who is this sweeping in from the desert,
    leaning on her lover?

Young Woman

I aroused you under the apple tree,
    where your mother gave you birth,
    where in great pain she delivered you.
Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[b] as enduring as the grave.[c]
Love flashes like fire,
    the brightest kind of flame.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:4 Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
  2. 8:6a Or its passion.
  3. 8:6b Hebrew as Sheol.

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