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.

“O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed from my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would hate 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.

I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, who used to teach me. I would give you wine with spices to drink, made from my pomegranates.

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

Let his left hand be under my head, and his right hand hold me close.” King Solomon

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

“I tell you, O daughters of Jerusalem. You must not wake up my love, until it is pleasing to her.” The Sixth Song Women of Jerusalem

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.

“Who is this coming up from the desert, resting on her loved one?” The Woman “I woke you up under the fruit tree. There your mother suffered and gave birth to 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!

Put me over your heart and on your arm, never to be taken off. For love is as strong as death. Jealousy is as hard as the grave. Its bright light is like the light of fire, the very fire of the Lord.

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.

Many waters cannot put out love. Rivers cannot cover it. If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, it would all be hated.” The Woman’s Brothers

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?

“We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What should we do for our sister on the day when she is promised 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.

If she is a wall, we should build on her a tower of silver. But if she is a door, we should cover her with strong pieces of cedar wood.” The Woman

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

“I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers. Then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace.” The Woman’s Brothers

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.

“Solomon has a grape-field at Baal-hamon. He put the grape-field into the care of certain men. Each one was to bring 1, 000 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!

My own grape-field is for myself. The 1, 000 pieces of silver are for you, Solomon. And 200 are for those who take care of its fruit.”

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

“O you who sit in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it.” The Woman

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

“Hurry, my love. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.”