New International Version 1If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. 2I would lead you 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. 3His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. 4Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. Friends 5Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? She Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth. 6Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousya unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.b 7Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, itc would be utterly scorned. Friends She 10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. 11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekelsd of silver. 12But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundrede are for those who tend its fruit. He She Footnotes: a 6 Or ardor b 6 Or fire, like the very flame of the Lord c 7 Or he d 11 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12 e 12 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms |
