1 O h, that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I should find you without, I would kiss you, yes, and none would despise me.

2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would cause you to drink spiced wine and of the juice of my pomegranates.

3 O h, that his left hand were under my head and that his right hand embraced me!

4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you never stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

5 W ho is this who comes up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother gave you birth, there she was in travail and bore you.

6 S et me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as hard and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame!

7 M any waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would offer all the goods of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned and despised.

8 W e have a little sister and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for in marriage?

9 I f she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like the towers of it. Then was I in eyes as one to find peace.

11 S olomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring him a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.

12 Y ou, O Solomon, can have your thousand, and those who tend the fruit of it two hundred; but my vineyard, which is mine, is before me!

13 O you who dwell in the gardens, your companions have been listening to your voice—now cause me to hear it.

14 M ake haste, my beloved, and come quickly, like a gazelle or a young hart upon the mountains of spices!