1 O h, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised.

“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, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate. (To the Daughters of Jerusalem)

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 H is left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me.

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

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases. Love Renewed in Lebanon A Relative

“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 coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth. The Shulamite to Her Beloved

“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 as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames 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, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. The Shulamite’s Brothers

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 In the day when she is spoken for?

“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 battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar. The Shulamite

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 like towers; Then I became in his eyes As one who found 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 leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit A thousand silver coins. (To Solomon)

“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 M y own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, And those who tend its fruit two hundred. The Beloved

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 Y ou who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice— Let me hear it! The Shulamite

“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 be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices.

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