[1] O that you were like a brother to me, that nursed at my mother's
breast! If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.
[2] I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, and into
the chamber of her that conceived me. I would give you spiced wine to
drink, the juice of my pomegranates. [3] O that his left hand were under my
head, and that his right hand embraced me! [4] I adjure you, O daughters of
Jerusalem, that you stir not up nor awaken love until it please. [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 travail with you, there
she who bore you was in travail. [6] Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a
seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the
grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement 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 scorned. [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? [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 brings peace. [11] Solomon
had a vineyard at Ba'al-ha'mon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each
one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. [12] My
vineyard, my very own, is for myself; 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 are listening for your voice; let me hear it.
[14] Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the
mountains of spices.
