Song of Solomon 8

Lovers Reunited at Their Country Home¹Oh, that you were like my brother, Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I should find you outside, I would kiss you; I would not be despised. ²I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, She who used to instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.

(To the Daughters of Jerusalem)³His left hand is under my head, And his right hand embraces me. ⁴I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

Love Renewed in Lebanon

A Relative⁵Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother brought you forth; There she who bore you brought you forth.

The Shulamite to Her Beloved⁶Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. ⁷Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised.

The Shulamite’s Brothers⁸We have a little sister, And she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister In the day when she is spoken for? ⁹If she is a wall, We will build upon her A battlement of silver; And if she is a door, We will enclose her With boards of cedar.

The Shulamite¹⁰I am a wall, And my breasts like towers; Then I became in his eyes As one who found peace. ¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; He leased the vineyard to keepers; Everyone was to bring for its fruit A thousand silver coins.

(To Solomon)¹²My own vineyard is before me. You, O Solomon, may have a thousand, And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

The Beloved¹³You who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice— Let me hear it!

The Shulamite¹⁴Make haste, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag On the mountains of spices.