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 charge you, daughters of Jerusalem,
that you not stir up, nor awaken love,
until it so desires.
Friends
5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?
The Bride
Under the apple tree I aroused 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 the grave.
Its flames are flashes of fire,
a flame as vehement as the Lord’s.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
nor can floods drown it.
Even if a man gave all the wealth of his house for love,
he would gain only rejection.
Brothers
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.
The Bride
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 coins of silver for its fruit.
12 My own vineyard is before me.
The thousand are for you, Solomon,
200 for those who tend its fruit.
The Bridegroom
13 You who dwell in the gardens,
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!
The Bride
14 Come away, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices!