1 If you were my brother,

I could kiss you

whenever we happen to meet,

and no one would say

I did wrong.

2 I could take you to the home

of my mother,

who taught me all I know.*

I would give you delicious wine

and fruit juice as well.

3 Put your left hand under my head

and embrace me

with your right arm.

4 Young women of Jerusalem,

promise me never to awaken love

before it is ready.

5 Who is this young woman

coming in from the desert

and leaning on the shoulder

of the one she loves?

I stirred up your passions

under the apple tree

where you were born.

6 Always keep me in your heart

and wear this bracelet

to remember me by.

The passion of love

bursting into flame

is more powerful than death,

stronger than the grave.

7 Love cannot be drowned

by oceans or floods.

It cannot be bought—

any offer would be scorned

no matter how great.

8 We have a little sister

whose breasts

are not yet formed.

If someone asks to marry her,

what should we do?

9 She isn't a wall

that we can defend

behind a silver shield.

Neither is she a room

that we can protect

behind a wooden door.

10 I am a wall around a city,

my breasts are towers,

and just looking at me

brings him great pleasure.

11 Solomon has a vineyard

at Baal-Hamon,

which he rents to others

for a thousand pieces

of silver each.

12 My vineyard is mine alone!

Solomon can keep his silver

and the others can keep

their share of the profits.

13 You are in the garden

with friends all around.

Let me hear your voice!

14 Hurry to me, my darling!

Run faster than a deer

to mountains of spices.