The Chorus

(A)Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
Leaning on her beloved?”

The Bride

“Beneath the (B)apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother went into labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave birth to you.
Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a (C)seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
[a](D)Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flames are flames of fire,
[b]The flame of the Lord.
Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers flood over it;
(E)If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”

The Chorus

“We have a little sister,
And she (F)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 (G)planks of cedar.”

The Bride

10 “I was a wall, and (H)my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11 Solomon had a (I)vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He (J)entrusted the vineyard to (K)caretakers.
Each one was to bring a (L)thousand shekels of silver for its (M)fruit.
12 My very own vineyard is [c]at my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

The Groom

13 “You who sit in the gardens:
My (N)companions are listening for your voice—
(O)Let me hear it!”

The Bride

14 [d]Hurry, my beloved,
And be (P)like a gazelle or a young [e]stag
On the (Q)mountains of balsam trees!”

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or Its passion is as inflexible
  2. Song of Solomon 8:6 Another reading is A vehement flame
  3. Song of Solomon 8:12 Lit before me
  4. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit Flee
  5. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit of the stags

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