Song of Solomon

¹ sharing with me the breasts of my mother, Playing outside in the street, kissing in plain view of everyone, and no one thinking anything of it.

² where I was raised by my mother. You'd drink my wine and kiss my cheeks.

³ his right arm around my waist!

⁴ Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe—and you're ready.

⁵ arm in arm with her lover? I found you under the apricot tree, and woke you up to love. Your mother went into labor under that tree, and under that very tree she bore you.

⁶ wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing— it sweeps everything before it.

⁷ torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold— it's not to be found in the marketplace.

⁸ "Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her?

⁹ and we'll protect her. If they think she's a wall, we'll top it with barbed wire. If they think she's a door, we'll barricade it."

¹⁰ but my breasts are full— And when my lover sees me, he knows he'll soon be satisfied.

¹¹ in lush, fertile country, Where he hires others to work the ground. People pay anything to get in on that bounty.

¹² and I'm keeping it to myself. You can have your vast vineyards, Solomon, you and your greedy guests!

¹³ my friends are with me listening. Let me hear your voice!

¹⁴ Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on the spice mountains.