Song of SolomonChapter 8

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¹I wish you were like a brother to me,
one who nursed at my mother's breasts.
Then if I found you outside, I would kiss you.
And no one would look down on me. ²I would lead you and bring you
to the house of my mother, who taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the sweet juice of my pomegranates. ³His left hand is under my head.
His right arm holds me close. ⁴Daughters of Jerusalem, make me a promise.
Do not stir up or wake up love
until the time is right. ⁵Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?
I woke you under the apple tree.
There your mother became pregnant with you.
There she was in labor and gave birth to you. ⁶Put me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death.
Its jealousy is as hard to escape as the grave.
Its sparks are flames of fire,
the hottest fire of all.a ⁷Many waters cannot put out love.
Rivers cannot wash it away.
If a man gave all the riches of his house for love,
his offer would be completely scorned. ⁸We have a little sister.
Her breasts have not grown yet.
What will we do for our sister
on the day a man asks to marry her? ⁹If she is a wall,
we will build a tower of silver on her.
If she is a door,
we will close her in with boards of cedar. ¹⁰I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
So in his eyes I have become
like one who brings peace. ¹¹Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon.
He rented it out to farmers.
Each one was to pay a thousand shekels of silver
for its fruit.b ¹²But my own vineyard is mine to give.
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon.
Two hundred are for those who care for its fruit. ¹³You who live in the gardens,
my friends are listening for your voice.
Let me hear it! ¹⁴Come away, my beloved.
Be like a gazelle or a young deer
on the mountains of spices.