8
The Lovers Speak
1 “Oh that you were like a brother to me
Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;
No one would despise me, either.
Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;
I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
3 “Let ASong 2:6his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me.”
2Or Why should you arouseDo not arouse or awaken my love
Until 3Or itshe pleases.”
Leaning on her beloved?”
Beneath the 3Or apricotBSong 2:3apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.
6 “Put me like a 1Or signetseal over your heart,
Like a AIs 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
2Or Its ardor is as inflexibleBProv 6:34Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
3Another reading is A vehement flameThe very flame of the Loʀᴅ.
7 “Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
AProv 6:35If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”
8 “1CHORUSWe have a little sister,
And she AEzek 16:7has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
9 “If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with A1 Kin 6:15planks of cedar.”
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11 “Solomon had a AEccl 2:4vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He BMatt 21:33entrusted the vineyard to CSong 1:6caretakers.
12 “My very own vineyard is 1Lit before meat my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”
13 “1BRIDEGROOMO you who sit in the gardens,
My ASong 1:7companions are listening for your voice—
BSong 2:14Let me hear it!”
And be ASong 2:7, 9, 17like a gazelle or a young 3Lit of the stagsstag
On the BSong 4:6mountains of spices.”
18:4 BRIDEGROOM
28:4 Or Why should you arouse
38:4 Or it
18:5 CHORUS
28:5 BRIDE
38:5 Or apricot
18:6 Or signet
A8:6 Is 49:16; Jer 22:24; Hag 2:23
28:6 Or Its ardor is as inflexible
38:6 Another reading is A vehement flame
18:8 CHORUS
18:10 BRIDE
18:12 Lit before me
18:13 BRIDEGROOM
18:14 BRIDE
28:14 Lit Flee
38:14 Lit of the stags