1 O h 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, 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. His right hand would embrace me.

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

5 W ho 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 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 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. 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 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 was in his eyes like one who found peace.

11 S olomon 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. The thousand are for you, Solomon; two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover

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

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