Song of Songs
8
- 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.
- 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.
- His left arm is under my head and his right
arm embraces me.
- Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do
not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
- Who is this coming up from the desert leaning
on her lover? Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived
you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.
- 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.
- Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot
wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it
would be utterly scorned.
- We have a young sister, and her breasts
are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister for the day she is spoken
for ?
- 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.
- I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.
- 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.
- But my own vineyard is mine to give; the
thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who
tend its fruit.
- You who dwell in the gardens with friends
in attendance, let me hear your voice !
- Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.
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