Song of Songs 8
8
Wishing
[Woman]
1If only you were as my brother—
the one who nursed at my mother’s breast.
I would find you in the street and kiss you,
and no one would shame me for it.
2I would lead you, I would bring you
to my mother’s house;
she would teach me what to do.#8.2 Or you would teach me; LXX, Syr to my mother's house, and to the chamber of the one who conceived me (cf 3:4)
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
some of my fresh pomegranate juice.
3His left arm is beneath my head,
and his right embraces me!
4Make a solemn pledge,
daughters of Jerusalem,
never to rouse, never to arouse love
until it desires.
Love, strong and invaluable
[Daughters of Jerusalem]
5Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning against her lover?
[Woman]
Under the apple tree I aroused you—
there, where your mother labored with you,
there where, laboring, she bore you.
6Set me as a seal over your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is as strong as death,
passionate love unrelenting as the grave.#8.6 Heb Sheol
Its darts are darts of fire—
divine flame!
7Rushing waters can’t quench love;
rivers can’t wash it away.
If someone gave
all his estate in exchange for love,
he would be laughed to utter shame.
[The Woman’s Brothers]
8Our sister is small;
she has no breasts.
What will we do for our sister
on the day that she is spoken for?
9If she is a city wall,
then we will build a turret of silver on her.#8.9 Or on it (the city wall)
And if she is a door,
then we will barricade her#8.9 Or it (the door) with a panel of cedar.
[Woman]
10I’m a city wall,
and my breasts are the towers.
So now I’m in his eyes
as one who brings peace.
[Man]
11Solomon had a vineyard
in Baal-hamon.
He gave charge of the vineyard to keepers;
one would bring in exchange for its fruit
a thousand pieces of silver.
12My vineyard, my very own, is before me.
You can have the thousand, Solomon#8.12 Cf 1 Kgs 11:3—
with two hundred for those who tend the fruit!
13You who sit in the gardens,
my companions are listening for your voice.
Let me hear it!
[Woman]
14“Take flight, my love,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spice!”
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Song of Songs 8: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Song of Songs 8
8
1If only I could treat you like my brother,#8:1 Lit Would that you were like a brother to me
one who nursed at my mother’s breasts,
I would find you in public and kiss you,
and no one would scorn me.
2I would lead you, I would take you,
to the house of my mother#Sg 3:4 who taught me.#8:2 LXX adds and into the chamber of the one who bore me
I would give you spiced wine to drink
from the juice of my pomegranate.
3May his left hand be under my head,
and his right arm embrace me.#Sg 2:6
4Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you,
do not stir up or awaken love
until the appropriate time.#Sg 2:7; 3:5
Young Women
5Who is this#Sg 3:6; 6:10 coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on the one she loves?
Woman
I awakened you under the apricot tree.#Sg 2:3
There your mother conceived you;
there she conceived and gave you birth.
6Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm.#Sg 2:16; 6:3; 7:10
For love is as strong as death;#Rm 8:38–39; 1Co 13:8
jealousy is as unrelenting as Sheol.
Love’s flames are fiery flames#Dt 32:21–22; Pr 6:34; 27:4 —
an almighty flame!#8:6 Or the blaze of the Lord
7A huge torrent cannot extinguish love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If a man were to give all his wealth#8:7 Lit all the wealth of his house for love,#Pr 6:35
it would be utterly scorned.
Brothers
8Our sister is young;
she has no breasts.#Ezk 16:7
What will we do for our sister
on the day she is spoken for?
9If she is a wall,
we will build a silver barricade on her.
If she is a door,
we will enclose her with cedar planks.#1Kg 6:15
Woman
10I am#8:10 Or was a wall
and my breasts like towers.
So to him I have become
like one who finds#8:10 Or brings peace.#8:10 In Hb, the word for peace sounds similar to Solomon and Shulammite.
11Solomon owned a vineyard in Baal-hamon.#Ec 2:4
He leased the vineyard to tenants.#Mt 21:33
Each was to bring for his fruit
one thousand pieces of silver.#Is 7:23
12I have my own vineyard.#8:12 Lit My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; Sg 1:6#Sg 1:6
The one thousand are for you, Solomon,
but two hundred for those who take care of its fruits.
Man
13You#8:13 In Hb, the word for You is feminine. who dwell in the gardens,
companions#Sg 1:7 are listening for your voice;
let me hear you!#Sg 2:14
Woman
14Run away with me,#8:14 Lit Flee my love,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.#Sg 2:17
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