1
Oh, I wish you were my brother,
who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching,
and no one would criticize me.
2
I would bring you to my childhood home,
and there you would teach me. 1
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
my sweet pomegranate wine.
3
Your left arm would be under my head,
and your right arm would embrace me.
4
Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
not to awaken love until the time is right. 2
5
Who is this sweeping in from the desert,
leaning on her lover?
I aroused you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave you birth,
where in great pain she delivered you.
6
Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
its jealousy 3 as enduring as the grave. 4
Love flashes like fire,
the brightest kind of flame.
7
Many waters cannot quench love,
nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love
with all his wealth,
his offer would be utterly scorned.