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 "Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem:

*Do not disturb 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 went into labor with you,

There she was in labor and gave birth to you.

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 flames are flames of fire,

*The flame of the Lord.

7 "Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor will rivers flood over 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.

12 "My very own vineyard is *at my disposal;

The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,

And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit."

13 "You who sit in the gardens:

My companions are listening for your voice—

Let me hear it!"

14 "*Hurry, my beloved,

And be like a gazelle or a young *stag

On the mountains of balsam trees!"