1 "Oh that you were like a brother to me Who nursed at my mother's breasts. [If] I found you outdoors, I would kiss you; No one would despise me, either.

2 "I would lead you [and] bring you Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.

3 "Let his left hand be under my head, And his right hand embrace me."

4 "I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken [my] love, Until she pleases."

5 "Who is this coming up from the wilderness, Leaning on her beloved?" "Beneath the apple tree I awakened you; There your mother was in labor with you, There she was in labor [and] gave you birth.

6 "Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The [very] flame of the Lord.

7 "Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised."

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 shall build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We shall barricade her with planks of cedar."

10 "I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

11 "Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers; Each one was to bring a thousand [shekels] of silver for its fruit.

12 "My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand [shekels] are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit."

13 "O you who sit in the gardens, [My] companions are listening for your voice – Let me hear it!"

14 "Hurry, my beloved, And be like a gazelle or a young stag On the mountains of spices."