[1] If only I could treat you like my brother, one who nursed at my mother's breasts, I would find you in public and kiss you, and no one would scorn me. [2] I would lead you, I would take you, to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranate. [3] May his left hand be under my head, and his right arm embrace me. [4] Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you, do not stir up or awaken love until the appropriate time. [5] Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on the one she loves? I awakened you under the apricot tree. There your mother conceived you; there she conceived and gave you birth. [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 unrelenting as Sheol. Love's flames are fiery flames- an almighty flame! [7] A huge torrent cannot extinguish love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all his wealth for love, it would be utterly scorned. [8] Our sister is young; she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? [9] If she is a wall, we will build a silver barricade on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with cedar planks. [10] I am a wall and my breasts like towers. So to him I have become like one who finds peace. [11] Solomon owned a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased the vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for his fruit one thousand pieces of silver. [12] I have my own vineyard. The one thousand are for you, Solomon, but two hundred for those who take care of its fruits. [13] You who dwell in the gardens, companions are listening for your voice; let me hear you! [14] Run away with me, my love, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
