1Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.

2I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.

3His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

4I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love,
until it so desires.

5Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?
Beloved Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you.
There she was in labour and bore you.

6Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm;
for love is strong as death.
Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. ¹
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a very flame of the LORD. ²

7Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.

8We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?

9If she is a wall, we will build on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers.
Each was to bring a thousand shekels ³of silver for its fruit.

12My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon,
two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

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

14Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!