1 A ue me i rite koe ki toku tungane i ngote nei i nga u o toku whaea! Ka kite ahau i a koe i waho, ka kihia koe e ahau; ae, e kore tetahi e whakahawea ki ahau.

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 K a aratakina koe e ahau, ka kawea ki te whare o toku whaea, ko ia ano hei whakaako i ahau; ka whakainumia koe e ahau ki te waina whakaranu, ki te wai o taku pamekaranete.

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 K o tona maui ki raro i toku matenga, ko tona matau ki te awhi i ahau.

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

4 H e ki atu tenei naku ki a koutou, e nga tamahine o Hiruharama, kaua e whakaohokia, kaua e whakaarahia taku e aroha nei, kia pai ra ano ia.

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

5 K o wai tenei e haere mai nei i te koraha e taupuhipuhi nei ki tana i aroha ai? Naku koe i whakaara ake i raro i te aporo; ko te wahi tena i puta mai ai koe i roto i tou whaea; i puta mai ano koe i reira i roto i te wahine i whanau ai koe.

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 W aiho ahau hei hiri ki tou ngakau, hei hiri ki tou ringa; rite tahi hoki ki to te mate te kaha o te aroha; nanakia tonu te hae, ano ko te urupa, ko ona hiko, he hiko ahi, he mura pu na Ihowa.

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 N ui te wai, e kore te aroha e taea te tinei, e kore ano e ngaro i nga awa: ahakoa i hoatu e te tangata nga rawa katoa o tona whare mo te aroha, ka whakahaweatia rawatia.

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 H e teina nohinohi to matou, kahore hoki ona u: me pehea matou ki to matou teina i te ra e korerotia ai ia?

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 K i te mea he taiepa ia, ka hanga e tatou he pourewa ki runga ki a ia, he mea hiriwa: ki te mea he tatau ia, ka whakakopakina ia e tatou ki nga papa hita.

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 H e taiepa ahau, ko oku u, ano ko ona pourewa; no reira, ki tana titiro mai, i rite ahau ki tetahi kua kite i te ata noho.

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

11 H e mara waina ta Horomona i Paarahamono, tukua atu ana e ia te mara ki nga kaitiaki; kotahi mano nga hiriwa hei kawenga mai ma tenei, ma tenei hei utu mo ona hua.

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 K o taku mara, ko taku ake, kei toku aroaro: mau, e Horomona, te kotahi mano, a ma nga kaitiaki o ona hua e rua rau.

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

13 E koe e noho nei i nga kari, e whakarongo ana nga hoa ki tou reo: meinga kia rongo ahau.

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

14 K ia hohoro, e taku e aroha nei, kia rite koe ki te anaterope, ki te kuao hata ranei i runga i nga maunga kinaki kakara.

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