[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 no one would despise me. [2] I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, she who used to instruct me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranates. [3] His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me! [4] I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. [5] Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor. [6] Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its fires of desire are as ardent flames, a most intense flame. [7] Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly condemned. [8] We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? [9] If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. [10] I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace. [11] Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon; he leased the vineyard to keepers; each man was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. [12] My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred. [13] O you who dwell in the gardens, my companions listen for your voice; let me hear it! [14] Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!
