8

  1If only you were to me like a brother,
   who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!
  Then, if I found you outside,
   I would kiss you,
   and no one would despise me.
  2I would lead you
   and bring you to my mother’s house—
   she who has taught me.
  I would give you spiced wine to drink,
   the nectar of my pomegranates.
  3His left arm is under my head
   and his right arm embraces me.
  4Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
   Do not arouse or awaken love
   until it so desires.

Friends

  5Who is this coming up from the wilderness
   leaning on her beloved?

She

  Under the apple tree I roused you;
   there your mother conceived you,
   there she who was in labor gave you birth.
  6Place me like a seal over your heart,
   like a seal on your arm;
  for love is as strong as death,
   its jealousy unyielding as the grave.
  It burns like blazing fire,
   like a mighty flame.
  7Many waters cannot quench love;
   rivers cannot sweep it away.
  If one were to give
   all the wealth of one’s house for love,
   it would be utterly scorned.

Friends

  8We have a little sister,
   and her breasts are not yet grown.
  What shall we do for our sister
   on the day she is spoken for?
  9If she is a wall,
   we will build towers of silver on her.
  If she is a door,
   we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

She

  10I am a wall,
   and my breasts are like towers.
  Thus I have become in his eyes
   like one bringing contentment.
  11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
   he let out his vineyard to tenants.
  Each was to bring for its fruit
   a thousand shekels of silver.
  12But my own vineyard is mine to give;
   the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
   and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

He

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

She

  14Come away, my beloved,
   and be like a gazelle
  or like a young stag
   on the spice-laden mountains.