1. If only you were to me like a brother,who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!Then, if I found you outside,I would kiss you,and no one would despise me.
2. I would lead youand bring you to my mother’s house –she who has taught me.I would give you spiced wine to drink,the nectar of my pomegranates.
3. His left arm is under my headand his right arm embraces me.
4. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:do not arouse or awaken loveuntil it so desires.
5. Who is this coming up from the wildernessleaning on her beloved?Under the apple tree I roused you;there your mother conceived you,there she who was in labour gave you birth.
6. Place me like a seal over your heart,like a seal on your arm;for love is as strong as death,its jealousy unyielding as the grave.It burns like blazing fire,like a mighty flame.
7. Many waters cannot quench love;rivers cannot sweep it away.If one were to giveall the wealth of one’s house for love,it would be utterly scorned.
8. We have a little sister,and her breasts are not yet grown.What shall we do for our sisteron the day she is spoken for?
9. If she is a wall,we will build towers of silver on her.If she is a door,we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
10. I am a wall,and my breasts are like towers.Thus I have become in his eyeslike one bringing contentment.
11. Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon;he let out his vineyard to tenants.Each was to bring for its fruita thousand shekels of silver.
12. But my own vineyard is mine to give;the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
13. You who dwell in the gardenswith friends in attendance,let me hear your voice!
14. Come away, my beloved,and be like a gazelleor like a young stagon the spice-laden mountains.Footnotes for the Book of Song of Songsa 1 Or Heb 1 Probably a member of the crocus familyc 3 Or possibly apricot; also in 8:5d 17 Or the hills of Bethera 4 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.b 15 Or I am (spoken by She)a 12 Or among the chariots of Amminadab; or among the chariots of the people of the princeb 13 In Hebrew texts this verse 6:13 is numbered 7:1.a 6 Or ardourb 6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lordc 7 Or hed 11 That is, about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12e 12 That is, about 2.3 kilograms