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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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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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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