Song of Songs 8
8
1If you were a baby, like my little brother nursing at his mother’s breasts,
and if I found you outside,
I could kiss you,
and no one would say it was wrong.
2I would lead you into my mother’s house,
to the room of she who taught me.
I would give you spiced wine
squeezed from my pomegranate.
She Speaks to the Women
3His left arm is under my head,
and his right hand holds me.
4Women of Jerusalem, promise me,
don’t awaken love,
don’t arouse love, until I am ready.#8:4 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.”
The Women of Jerusalem Speak
5Who is this woman
coming from the desert, leaning on her lover?
She Speaks to Him
I woke you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave birth to you,
where you were born.
6Keep me near you like a seal you wear over your heart,
like a signet ring you wear on your hand.
Love is as strong as death.
Passion is as strong as the grave.#8:6 the grave Or “Sheol,” the place where dead people go.
Its sparks become a flame,
and it grows to become a great fire#8:6 great fire Or “the flame of the Lord.”!
7A flood cannot put out love.
Rivers cannot drown love.
Would people despise a man for giving
everything he owns for love?
Her Brothers Speak
8We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What should we do for our sister
when a man comes asking to marry her?
9If she were a wall,
we would put silver trim#8:9 trim Or “supports.” Often horizontal beams and towers were built into walls to strengthen and support them. But here, this seems to be a decoration. around her.
If she were a door,
we would put a cedar board around her.
She Answers Her Brothers
10I am a wall,
and my breasts are my towers.
And he is satisfied with me!#8:10 he is satisfied with me Literally, “in his eyes I find peace.” In Hebrew this is also like the names “Solomon” and “Shulamith.”
He Speaks
11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.
He put men in charge of the vineyard.
Each man brought in grapes
worth 1000 shekels#8:11 1000 shekels About 25 pounds (11.5 kg). Also in verse 12. of silver.
12Solomon, you can keep your 1000 shekels.
Give 200 shekels to each man for the grapes he brought.
But I will keep my own vineyard.
He Speaks to Her
13There you are, sitting in the garden.
Friends are listening to your voice.
Let me hear it too!
She Speaks to Him
14Hurry, my lover!
Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spice.
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Song of Songs 8: ERV
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Song of Songs 8
8
1I wish that you were my brother,
that my mother had nursed you at her breast.
Then, if I met you in the street,
I could kiss you and no one would mind.
2I would take you to my mother's house,
where you could teach me love.
I would give you spiced wine,
my pomegranate wine to drink.
3Your left hand is under my head,
and your right hand caresses me.
4Promise me, women of Jerusalem,
that you will not interrupt our love.
The Sixth Song
The Women
5Who is this coming from the desert,
arm in arm with her lover?
The Woman
Under the apple tree I woke you,
in the place where you were born.
6Close your heart to every love but mine;
hold no one in your arms but me.
Love is as powerful as death;
passion is as strong as death itself.
It bursts into flame
and burns like a raging fire.
7Water cannot put it out;
no flood can drown it.
But if anyone tried to buy love with wealth,
contempt is all they would get.
The Woman's Brothers
8We have a young sister,
and her breasts are still small.
What will we do for her
when a young man comes courting?
9If she is a wall,
we will build her a silver tower.
But if she is a gate,
we will protect her with panels of cedar.
The Woman
10I am a wall,
and my breasts are its towers.
My lover knows that with him
I find contentment and peace.
The Man
11Solomon has a vineyard
in a place called Baal Hamon.
There are farmers who rent it from him;
each one pays a thousand silver coins.
12Solomon is welcome to his thousand coins,
and the farmers to 200 as their share;
I have a vineyard of my own!
13Let me hear your voice from the garden, my love;
my companions are waiting to hear you speak.
The Woman
14Come to me, my lover, like a gazelle,
like a young stag on the mountains where spices grow.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.