Hoheslied 8 | New International Version

1 If 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. 2 I 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. 3 His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. 4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Friends 5 Who 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. 6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy* unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.* 7 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* would be utterly scorned. Friends 8 We 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? 9 If 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. She 10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. 11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels* of silver. 12 But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred* are for those who tend its fruit. He 13 You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! She 14 Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.

English Standard Version

Longing for Her Beloved

1 Oh 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. 2 I 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. 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me! 4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 5 Who 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. 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy* is fierce as the grave.* Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. 7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he* would be utterly despised.

Final Advice

8 Others: 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? 9 If 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. 10 She: I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds* peace. 11 Solomon 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. 12 My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred. 13 He: O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it. 14 She: Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.

Hoheslied 8 | New International Version English Standard Version

Longing for Her Beloved

Final Advice