1 O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; and I should not be despised. 2 I would lead thee and bring thee into my mother’s house, that thou would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. 3 His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. 4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye not awake nor stir up love until he pleases.
5 Who is she that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I woke thee up under the apple tree; there thy mother had birth pains; there she had pains that brought thee into the light.
6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a sign upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is hard as Sheol; the coals thereof are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame. 7 The many waters cannot quench love, neither can the rivers drown it; if a man would give all the substance of his house for this love, it would certainly be despised.
8 We have a little sister, and she still has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? 9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver; and if she is a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10 I am a wall, and my breasts like towers since I was in his eyes as the one that found peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; for its fruit each one was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. 12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; the thousand pieces shall be thine, O Solomon, and two hundred for those that keep the fruit.
13 Thou, she that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice; cause me to hear it.
14 Run, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.