Song of Solomon 8
8
Longing for Her Beloved
1Oh that you were like a brother to me
who nursed at my mother’s breasts!
If I found you outside, I would kiss you,
and none would despise me.
2I would lead you and #ch. 3:4 bring you
into the house of my mother—
she who used to teach me.
I would give you #[Prov. 9:2, 5]spiced wine to drink,
the juice of my pomegranate.
3 # ch. 2:6, 7 His left hand is under my head,
and his right hand embraces me!
4I #See ch. 2:7 adjure you, O #See ch. 1:5 daughters of Jerusalem,
# [ch. 2:7] that you not stir up or awaken love
until it pleases.
5 # See ch. 3:6 Who is that coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her beloved?
Under the apple tree I awakened you.
There your mother was in labor with you;
there she who bore you was in labor.
6Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as #Isa. 49:16; Jer. 22:24; Hag. 2:23 a seal upon your arm,
for #[Rom. 8:35] love is strong as death,
# [Ex. 34:14]; Deut. 4:24 jealousy#8:6 Or ardor is fierce as the grave.#8:6 Hebrew as Sheol
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
the very #[Job 1:16]flame of the Lord.
7Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If a man offered for love
all the wealth of his #Prov. 6:35house,
he#8:7 Or it would be utterly despised.
Final Advice
Others
8We have a little sister,
and she #[Ezek. 16:7]has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?
9If she is a wall,
we will build on her a battlement of silver,
but if she is a door,
we will enclose her with #[1 Kgs. 6:15]boards of cedar.
She
10 # [ch. 4:12, 13] I was a wall,
and my #[ch. 4:5; 7:3]breasts were like towers;
then I was in his eyes
as one who finds#8:10 Or brings out peace.
11Solomon had #Eccles. 2:4 a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
he #[Matt. 21:33] let out the vineyard to #ch. 1:6 keepers;
each one was to bring for its fruit #[Isa. 7:23]a thousand pieces of silver.
12My vineyard, my very own, is before me;
you, O Solomon, may have the thousand,
and #See Prov. 27:18the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
He
13 # [ch. 5:1] O you who dwell in the gardens,
with #ch. 1:7 companions listening for your voice;
# ch. 2:14 let me hear it.
She
14 # [Rev. 22:17, 20] Make haste, my beloved,
and be #See ch. 2:9 like a gazelle
or a young stag
on #[ch. 4:6]the mountains of spices.
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Song of Songs 8
8
Young Woman
1Oh, I wish you were my brother,
who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching,
and no one would criticize me.
2I would bring you to my childhood home,
and there you would teach me.#8:2 Or there she will teach me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
my sweet pomegranate wine.
3Your left arm would be under my head,
and your right arm would embrace me.
4Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
not to awaken love until the time is right.#8:4 Or not to awaken love until it is ready.
Young Women of Jerusalem
5Who is this sweeping in from the desert,
leaning on her lover?
Young Woman
I aroused you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave you birth,
where in great pain she delivered you.
6Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
its jealousy#8:6a Or its passion. as enduring as the grave.#8:6b Hebrew as Sheol.
Love flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame.
7Many waters cannot quench love,
nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love
with all his wealth,
his offer would be utterly scorned.
The Young Woman’s Brothers
8We have a little sister
too young to have breasts.
What will we do for our sister
if someone asks to marry her?
9If she is a virgin, like a wall,
we will protect her with a silver tower.
But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door,
we will block her door with a cedar bar.
Young Woman
10I was a virgin, like a wall;
now my breasts are like towers.
When my lover looks at me,
he is delighted with what he sees.
11Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon,
which he leases out to tenant farmers.
Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver
for harvesting its fruit.
12But my vineyard is mine to give,
and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver.
But I will give two hundred pieces
to those who care for its vines.
Young Man
13O my darling, lingering in the gardens,
your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.
Let me hear it, too!
Young Woman
14Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle
or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
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