• 1 If 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.
  • 2 I 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.
  • 3 His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.
  • 4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

  • Friends

  • 5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.

  • She

  • 6 Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.
  • 7 Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned.

  • Friends

  • 8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?
  • 9 If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

  • She

  • 10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.
  • 11 Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver.
  • 12 But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

  • He

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

  • She

  • 14 Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.