1 O, 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 no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you and bring you into my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink from the nectar of my pomegranate.
3 O that his left hand were under my head, and his right hand embraced me.
4 I charge you, daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken love until it so delights.
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her lover? Under the apple tree I roused you. There your mother travailed with you. There she who was in labor gave you birth.
6 Set me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as Sheol. Its flames are bolts of fire, the flame of Adonai.
7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor rivers wash it away. If one gave all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly despised.
8 We have a little sister, still without breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will fence her in with cedar plank.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes as one bringing shalom.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each was to bring for his fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My very own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for those who tend the fruit.
13 You who abide in the gardens, friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
14 Come quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!