The Lovers Speak
8 “Oh that you were like a brother to me
Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;
No one would despise me, either.
2 I would lead you and (A)bring you
Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
3 Let (B)his left hand be under my head,
And his right hand embrace me.”
The Groom
4 “(C)Swear to me, you daughters of Jerusalem:
Do not disturb or awaken my love
Until she pleases.”
The Chorus
5 “(D)Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
Leaning on her beloved?”
The Bride
“Beneath the (E)apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother went into labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave birth to you.
6 Put me like a seal over your heart,
Like a (F)seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
(G)Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flames are flames of fire,
The flame of the Lord.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers flood over it;
(H)If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”
The Chorus
8 “We have a little sister,
And she (I)has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with (J)planks of cedar.”
The Bride
10 “I was a wall, and (K)my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11 Solomon had a (L)vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He (M)entrusted the vineyard to (N)caretakers.
Each one was to bring a (O)thousand shekels of silver for its (P)fruit.
12 My very own vineyard is at my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”
The Groom
13 “You who sit in the gardens:
My (Q)companions are listening for your voice—
(R)Let me hear it!”
The Bride
14 “Hurry, my beloved,
And be (S)like a gazelle or a young stag
On the (T)mountains of balsam trees!”
Footnotes
- Song of Solomon 8:4
- Song of Solomon 8:6
- Song of Solomon 8:6
- Song of Solomon 8:12
- Song of Solomon 8:14
- Song of Solomon 8:14
Cross references
- Song of Solomon 8:2 : Song 3:4
- Song of Solomon 8:3 : Song 2:6
- Song of Solomon 8:4 : Song 2:7; 3:5
- Song of Solomon 8:5 : Song 3:6
- Song of Solomon 8:5 : Song 2:3
- Song of Solomon 8:6 : Is 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23
- Song of Solomon 8:6 : Prov 6:34
- Song of Solomon 8:7 : Prov 6:35
- Song of Solomon 8:8 : Ezek 16:7
- Song of Solomon 8:9 : 1 Kin 6:15
- Song of Solomon 8:10 : Ezek 16:7
- Song of Solomon 8:11 : Eccl 2:4
- Song of Solomon 8:11 : Matt 21:33
- Song of Solomon 8:11 : Song 1:6
- Song of Solomon 8:11 : Is 7:23
- Song of Solomon 8:11 : Song 2:3; 8:12
- Song of Solomon 8:13 : Song 1:7
- Song of Solomon 8:13 : Song 2:14
- Song of Solomon 8:14 : Song 2:7, 9, 17
- Song of Solomon 8:14 : Song 4:6
