1If 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.2I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house – she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.3His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.4Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Friends5Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? She Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labour gave you birth.6Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy[1] unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.[2]7Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it[3] would be utterly scorned. Friends8We 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?9If 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. She10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels[4] of silver.12But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred[5] are for those who tend its fruit. He13You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! She14Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.
Song of Solomon 8
English Standard Version
Longing for Her Beloved
1Oh that you were like a brother to me who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.2I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother— she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate. (Pr 9:2; Pr 9:5; So 3:4)3His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! (So 2:6)4I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. (So 1:5; So 2:7)5Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor. (So 3:6)6Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy[1] is fierce as the grave.[2] Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. (Ex 34:14; De 4:24; Job 1:16; Isa 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23; Ro 8:35)7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he[3] would be utterly despised. (Pr 6:35)
Final Advice
8Others: We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? (Eze 16:7)9If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. (1Ki 6:15)10She: I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds[4] peace. (So 4:5; So 4:12; So 7:3)11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. (Ec 2:4; So 1:6; Isa 7:23; Mt 21:33)12My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred. (Pr 27:18)13He: O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it. (So 1:7; So 2:14; So 5:1)14She: Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. (So 2:9; So 4:6; Re 22:17; Re 22:20)