Song of Solomon

¹ who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.

² and bring you to my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.

³ and his right arm embraces me.

⁴ Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

⁵ Who is this coming up from the desert leaning on her lover? Beloved Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.

⁶ like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.

⁷ rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

⁸ We have a young sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken for?

⁹ we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

¹⁰ I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.

¹¹ he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver.

¹² the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

¹³ You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!

¹⁴ Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.