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.

“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, 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 teach me. I would give you wine with spices to drink, made from 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 hold me close.” King Solomon

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

“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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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 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 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 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 was in his eyes like 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 out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

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

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, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! Beloved

“O you who sit in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it.” The Woman

14 C ome away, my beloved! 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.”