1Oh that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, finding you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
2I would lead you, I would bring you to my mother’s house — she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
3His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.
4I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem: why should you rouse or awaken love until it desires?
5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother was in labor with you, there she was in labor and bore you.
6Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy fierce as Sheol. Its flames are flames of fire, the very flame of Yah.
7Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers flood it away. If a man gave all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.
8We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
9If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with a board of cedar.
10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he gave the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
12My vineyard, my very own, is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for those who keep its fruit.
13You who dwell in the gardens, companions are listening for your voice — let me hear it!
14Flee, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices.
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