Song of Solomon 8

1. I wish you were my brother, 1 who nursed at my mother’s breast; 1 then, if I met you outdoors, I could kiss you, 1 and no one would look down on me.

2. I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house, 2 and she would instruct me. 2 I would give you spiced wine to drink, 2 fresh juice from my pomegranates.

3. His left arm would be under my head 3 and his right arm around me.

4. I warn you, daughters of Yerushalayim, 4 not to awaken or stir up love 4 until it wants to arise!

5. [Chorus] 5 Who is this, coming up from the desert, 5 leaning on her darling? 5 [He] 5 I awakened you under the apple tree. 5 It was there that your mother conceived you; 5 there she who bore you conceived you.

6. [She] 6 Set me like a seal on your heart, 6 like a seal on your arm; 6 for love is as strong as death, 6 passion as cruel as Sh’ol; 6 its flashes are flashes of fire, 6 [as fierce as the] flame of Yah.

7. No amount of water can quench love, 7 torrents cannot drown it. 7 If someone gave all the wealth in his house for love, 7 he would gain only utter contempt.

8. [Chorus] 8 We have a little sister; 8 her breasts are still unformed. 8 What are we to do with our sister 8 when she is asked for in marriage?

9. If she is a wall, 9 we will build on her a palace of silver; 9 and if she is a door, 9 we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

10. [She] 10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; 10 so in his view I am like one who brings peace.

11. Shlomo had a vineyard at Ba‘al-Hamon, 11 and he gave the vineyard to caretakers; 11 each of them would pay for its fruit 11 a thousand pieces of silver.

12. My vineyard is mine; I tend it, myself. 12 You can have the thousand, Shlomo, 12 and the fruit-caretakers, two hundred!

13. [He] 13 You who live in the garden, 13 friends are listening for your voice. 13 Let me hear it! —

14. [She] 14 — Flee, my darling! 14 Be like a gazelle or young stag 14 on the mountains of spices!