1 Oh, that you were like my brother,

Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!

IfI should find you outside,

I would kiss you;

I would not be despised.

2 I would lead youandbring you

Into thehouse of my mother,

Shewhoused to instruct me.

I would cause you to drink ofspiced wine,

Of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 His left handisunder my head,

And his right hand embraces me.

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem,

Do not stir up nor awaken love

Until it pleases.

Love Renewed in Lebanon

5 Whoisthis coming up from the wilderness,

Leaning upon her beloved?

I awakened you under the apple tree.

There your mother brought you forth;

There shewhobore you broughtyouforth.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart,

As a seal upon your arm;

For loveisasstrong as death,

Jealousyascruel as the grave;

Its flamesareflames of fire,

A most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot quench love,

Nor can the floods drown it.

If a man would give for love

All the wealth of his house,

It would be utterly despised.

8 We have a little sister,

And she has no breasts.

What shall we do for our sister

In the day when she is spoken for?

9 If sheisa wall,

We will build upon her

A battlement of silver;

And if sheisa door,

We will enclose her

With boards of cedar.

10 Iama wall,

And my breasts like towers;

Then I became in his eyes

As one who found peace.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon;

He leased the vineyard to keepers;

Everyone was to bring for its fruit

A thousand silvercoins.

12 My own vineyardisbefore me.

You, O Solomon,mayhavea thousand,

And those who tend its fruit two hundred.

13 You who dwell in the gardens,

The companions listen for your voice—

Let me hear it!

14 Make haste, my beloved,

Andbe like a gazelle

Or a young stag

On the mountains of spices.