1Oh, that you were as my brother that my mother nursed! Then I could kiss you regardless of who was watching, and not be despised. 2I would lead you, and bring you into my mother's house, who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine or the juice of my pomegranate to drink.

3His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. 4 O daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you, that you not arouse, nor awaken my love, until the proper time.

5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree where your mother brought you forth; there she who bore you brought you forth.

6Set me like a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as cruel as the grave; it burns like coals of fire, with a very hot flame. 7Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give all he owned for love, it would utterly be rejected.

8We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when someone asks to marry her? 9If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her a tower of silver; and if she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. 10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; when my lover looks at me, he is delighted at what he sees.

11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he leased the vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. 12But my vineyard is mine to give. The thousand pieces of silver are for you, Solomon, but two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.

13You who dwell in the gardens with friends, let me hear your voice. Let me hear it.

14Come away, my beloved, and be like the gazelle, or like a young stag upon the spice-laden mountains.