1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
8 <1> If you were a baby, like my little brother nursing at his mother's breasts, and if I found you outside, I could kiss you, and no one would say it was wrong. <2> I would lead you into my mother's house, to the room of she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine squeezed from my pomegranate.[80]
<3> His left arm is under my head,
and his right hand holds me.
<4> Women of Jerusalem, promise me,
don't awaken love,
don't arouse love, until I am ready.[81]
<5> Who is this woman
coming from the desert, leaning on her lover?
I woke you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave birth to you,
where you were born.
<6> Keep me near you like a seal
you wear over your heart,
like a signet ring[82]
you wear on your hand.
Love is as strong as death.
Passion is as strong as the grave.[83]
Its sparks become a flame,
and it grows to become a great fire[84]!
<7> A flood cannot put out love.
Rivers cannot drown love.
Would people despise a man for giving
everything he owns for love?
<8> We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What should we do for our sister
when a man comes asking to marry her?
<9> If she were a wall,
we would put silver trim[85] around her.
If she were a door,
we would put a cedar board around her.
<10> I am a wall,
and my breasts are my towers.
And he is satisfied with me![86]
<11> Solomon had a vineyard[87] at Baal Hamon.
He put men in charge of the vineyard.
Each man brought in grapes
worth 1000 shekels[88] of silver.
<12> Solomon, you can keep your 1000 shekels.
Give 200 shekels to each man
for the grapes he brought.
But I will keep my own vineyard.
<13> There you sit, in the garden,
friends are listening to your voice.
Let me hear it too!
<14> Hurry, my lover!
Be like a gazelle[89] or a young deer on the mountains of spice.
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.