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.

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

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

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

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 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 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.

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, 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 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 has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is 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 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 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 I became in his eyes As one who 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 Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit A thousand silver coins. (To Solomon)

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

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

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

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

14 M ake haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices.

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