1 If 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.
2 I 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.
3 His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.
4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.
Friends
5 Who 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 labour gave you birth.
6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
its jealousyunyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
itwould be utterly scorned.
Friends
8 We 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?
9 If 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
10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
like one bringing contentment.
11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;
he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
a thousand shekelsof silver.
12 But my own vineyard is mine to give;
the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
and two hundredare for those who tend its fruit.
He
13 You who dwell in the gardens
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!
She
14 Come away, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the spice-laden mountains.
Footnotes for the Book of Song of Songs
a1OrHe
b1Probably a member of the crocus family
c3Or possiblyapricot; also in 8:5
d17Orthe hills of Bether
a4The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
b15OrI am(spoken byShe)
a12Oramong the chariots of Amminadab; oramong the chariots of the people of the prince
b13In Hebrew texts this verse 6:13 is numbered 7:1.
a6Orardour
b6Orfire, / like the very flame of the Lord
c7Orhe
d11That is, about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
e12That is, about 2.3 kilograms
—https://d1b84921e69nmq.cloudfront.net/72/32k/SNG/8-e197634edde5c50df38164b279b5f2c6.mp3?version_id=113—