Song of Songs 8 How I wish that you were my little brother, who nursed upon my mother's breasts! If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me!

VIN⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ How I wish that you were my little brother, who nursed upon my mother's breasts! If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me! ² I would lead you and bring you to my mother's house, Who has taught me; I would give you to drink of wine that is compounded, Of my pomegranate juice." ³ His left hand is under my head, And his right arm embraces me." ⁴ I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires. ⁵ Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother conceived you; there she who was in labor gave birth to you. ⁶ Place me like a seal upon your heart, Like a seal upon your arm, For love is strong as death, Its jealousy hard as the unseen, Its burning coals as burning coals of fire, The blaze of Yah." ⁷ Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. ⁸ We have a young sister, And her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister On the day when she is spoken for? ⁹ If she is a wall, we will build a turret of silver on her. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. ¹⁰ I am a wall, And my breasts are like towers; I have, then, become in his eyes Like one providing peace." ¹¹ Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he leased his vineyard to keepers; everyone was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. ¹² My own "vineyard" belongs to me; the "thousand" are for you, O Solomon, and "two hundred" for those who tend its fruit. ¹³ You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! ¹⁴ Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!