Song of Solomon

¹ “Oh that you were like a brother to me Who nursed at my mother’s breasts. If I found you outside, I would kiss you; No one would despise me, either.

² Into the house of my mother, who used to teach me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the sweet wine of my pomegranates.

³ And his right hand embrace me.”

⁴ Why should you arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases?”

⁵ Leaning on her beloved?” “Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother was in labor with you; There she was in labor and gave you birth.

⁶ Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of Yah.

⁷ Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”

⁸ And she has no breasts; What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for?

⁹ We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar.”

¹⁰ Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

¹¹ He gave the vineyard to caretakers. Each one was to bring one thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

¹² The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

¹³ My companions are giving heed to your voice— Let me hear it!”

¹⁴ And be like a gazelle or a young stag On the mountains of spices.”