Song of Solomon 8

New American Standard Bible

¹ '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 [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 'Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.'

⁴ 'I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken [my] love Until she pleases.'

⁵ '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 '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 '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 '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 '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 was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

¹¹ '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.