8:1 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.
8:2 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.
8:3 His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.
8:4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
8:5 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.
8:6 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.
8:7 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.
8:8 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?
8:9 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.
8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.
8:11 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.
8:12 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.
8:13 You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
8:14 Come away, my lover, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.
8:1 Oh that you were like a brother to me, / Who nursed at my mother’s breasts! / If I found you outside, I would kiss you, / And none would despise me.
8:2 I would lead you and bring you / Into my mother’s house, / Who has instructed me; / I would make you drink spiced wine / From the juice of my pomegranate.
8:3 His left hand would be under my head, / And his right hand would embrace me.
8:4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, / Do not rouse up or awaken my love / Until she pleases.
8:5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, / Leaning on her beloved? / I awakened you under the apple tree: / There your mother was in labor with you; / There she was in labor and brought you forth.
8:6 Set me as a seal on your heart, / As a seal on your arm; / For love is as strong as death, / Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol; / Its flashes are the flashes of fire, / A flame of Jehovah.
8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, / Nor do floods drown it. / If a man gave all the substance of his house for love, / It would be utterly despised.
8:8 We have a little sister, / And she has no breasts: / What shall we do for our sister / On the day when she is spoken for?
8:9 If she is a wall, / We will build on her a battlement of silver; / And if she is a door, / We will enclose her with boards of cedar.
8:10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; / Then I was in his eyes like one who has found peace.
8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon: / He let out the vineyard to keepers; / Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
8:12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. / You will have the thousand, O Solomon; / And those who keep its fruit, two hundred.
8:13 O you who dwell in the gardens, / My companions listen for your voice; / Let me hear it.
8:14 Make haste, my beloved, / And be like a gazelle or a young hart / Upon the mountains of spices.