[a](A)Who is this coming up from the wilderness
Leaning on her beloved?”

[b]Beneath the [c](B)apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.
“Put me like a [d]seal over your heart,
Like a (C)seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
[e](D)Jealousy is as severe as Sheol;
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
[f]The very flame of the Lord.
“Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor will rivers overflow it;
(E)If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly despised.”

[g]We have a little sister,
And she (F)has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?
“If she is a wall,
We will build on her a battlement of silver;
But if she is a door,
We will barricade her with (G)planks of cedar.”

10 [h]I was a wall, and (H)my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.
11 “Solomon had a (I)vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He (J)entrusted the vineyard to (K)caretakers.
Each one was to bring a (L)thousand shekels of silver for its (M)fruit.
12 “My very own vineyard is [i]at my disposal;
The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

13 [j]O you who sit in the gardens,
My (N)companions are listening for your voice—
(O)Let me hear it!”

14 [k][l]Hurry, my beloved,
And be (P)like a gazelle or a young [m]stag
On the (Q)mountains of spices.”

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:5 CHORUS
  2. Song of Solomon 8:5 BRIDE
  3. Song of Solomon 8:5 Or apricot
  4. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or signet
  5. Song of Solomon 8:6 Or Its ardor is as inflexible
  6. Song of Solomon 8:6 Another reading is A vehement flame
  7. Song of Solomon 8:8 CHORUS
  8. Song of Solomon 8:10 BRIDE
  9. Song of Solomon 8:12 Lit before me
  10. Song of Solomon 8:13 BRIDEGROOM
  11. Song of Solomon 8:14 BRIDE
  12. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit Flee
  13. Song of Solomon 8:14 Lit of the stags