1 O h that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.

Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead thee, bring thee into my mother's house; Thou wouldest instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.

I would lead you, bringing you into my mother’s house, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 H is left hand would be under my head, And his right hand embrace me.

His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, … Why should ye stir up, why awake love, till he please?

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. Friends

5 W ho is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awoke thee under the apple-tree: There thy mother brought thee forth; There she brought thee forth bore thee.

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.

6 S et me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol: The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, Flames of Jah.

Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of Yahweh.

7 M any waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.

Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. Friends

8 W e have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?—

We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?

9 I f she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.

If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.

I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

11 S olomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

12 M y vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred.

My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover

13 T hou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Let me hear.

You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Beloved

14 H aste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.

Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!