1 Oh, that you were like my brother,
Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!
IfI should find you outside,
I would kiss you;
I would not be despised.
2 I would lead youandbring you
# Into thehouse of my mother,
Shewhoused to instruct me.
# I would cause you to drink ofspiced wine,
Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left handisunder my head,
And his right hand embraces me.
4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
Do not stir up nor awaken love
Until it pleases.
Love Renewed in Lebanon
5 Whoisthis coming up from the wilderness,
Leaning upon her beloved?
I awakened you under the apple tree.
There your mother brought you forth;
There shewhobore you broughtyouforth.
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,
As a seal upon your arm;
For loveisasstrong as death,
# Jealousyascruel as the grave;
Its flamesareflames of fire,
A most vehement flame.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can the floods drown it.
# If a man would give for love
All the wealth of his house,
It would be utterly despised.
8 We have a little sister,
And she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
In the day when she is spoken for?
9 If sheisa wall,
We will build upon her
A battlement of silver;
And if sheisa door,
We will enclose her
With boards of cedar.
10 Iama wall,
And my breasts like towers;
Then I became in his eyes
As one who found peace.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;
# He leased the vineyard to keepers;
Everyone was to bring for its fruit
A thousand silvercoins.
12 My own vineyardisbefore me.
You, O Solomon,mayhavea thousand,
And those who tend its fruit two hundred.
13 You who dwell in the gardens,
The companions listen for your voice—
# Let me hear it!
14 Make haste, my beloved,
# Andbe like a gazelle
Or a young stag
On the mountains of spices.