1 ¶ O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; and I should not be despised.

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 and bring thee into my mother’s house, that thou would 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 should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

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

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye not awake nor stir up love until he pleases.

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

5 ¶ Who is she that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I woke thee up under the apple tree; there thy mother had birth pains; there she had pains that brought thee into the light.

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 thine heart as a sign upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is hard as Sheol; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame.

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 T he many waters cannot quench love, neither can the rivers drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for this love, it would certainly be despised.

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 ¶ We have a little sister, and she still has 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 is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will inclose 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 since I was in his eyes as the one that found 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 Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; for its fruit each one was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

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 pieces shall be thine, O Solomon, and two hundred for those that keep the fruit.

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

13 ¶ Thou, she that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice; cause me to hear it.

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

14 R un, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to 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!