1 Oh that you were like my brother,

who nursed from the breasts of my mother!

If I found you outside, I would kiss you;

yes, and no one would despise me.

2 I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother,

who would instruct me.

I would have you drink spiced wine,

of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left hand would be under my head.

His right hand would embrace me.

4 I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem,

that you not stir up, nor awaken love,

until it so desires.

5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness,

leaning on her beloved?

Under the apple tree I awakened you.

There your mother conceived you.

There she was in labor and bore you.

6 Set me as a seal on your heart,

as a seal on your arm;

for love is strong as death.

Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol.

Its flashes are flashes of fire,

a very flame of Yahweh.

7 Many waters can’t quench love,

neither can floods drown it.

If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love,

he would be utterly scorned.

8 We have a little sister.

She has no breasts.

What shall we do for our sister

in the day when she is to be spoken for?

9 If she is a wall,

we will build on her a turret of silver.

If she is a door,

we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers,

then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.

He leased out the vineyard to keepers.

Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

12 My own vineyard is before me.

The thousand are for you, Solomon,

two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

13 You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance,

let me hear your voice!

14 Come away, my beloved!

Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

1 Oh that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! Should I find thee without, I would kiss thee; And they would not despise me.2 I would lead thee, bring thee into my mother's house; Thou wouldest instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.3 His left hand would be under my head, And his right hand embrace me.4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, ...Why should ye stir up, why awake {my} love, till he please?5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awoke thee under the apple-tree: There thy mother brought thee forth; There she brought thee forth {that} bore thee.6 Set me as a seal upon thy heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as Sheol: The flashes thereof are flashes of fire, Flames of Jah.7 Many waters cannot quench love, Neither do the floods drown it: Even if a man gave all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.8 We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for? -9 If she be a wall, We will build upon her a turret of silver; And if she be a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar.10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers; Then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand silver-pieces.12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: The thousand {silver-pieces} be to thee, Solomon; And to the keepers of its fruit, two hundred.13 Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Let me hear {it}.14 Haste, my beloved, And be thou like a gazelle or a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.