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.

“Oh that you were like a brother to me Who nursed at my mother’s breasts. If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you; No one would despise me, either.

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.

“I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.

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

“Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.”

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

“ I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases.”

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.

“ Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning on her beloved?” “ Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother was in labor with you, There she was in labor and gave you birth.

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.

“Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord.

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

“Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”

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?

“ We have a little sister, And she has no breasts; What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is 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

“If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar.”

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

“ I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who finds 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.

“Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each one 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

“My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

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

“ O you who sit in the gardens, My companions are listening for your voice— Let me hear it!”

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

“ Hurry, my beloved, And be like a gazelle or a young stag On the mountains of spices.”