Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
1O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. | 1Oh, how I wish you were my little brother, nursing at my mother's breasts; if I saw you outside, I could kiss you--surely no one would despise me! |
2I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates. | 2I would lead you and bring you to my mother's house, the one who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates. |
3His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. | 3His left hand caresses my head, and his right hand stimulates me. |
4O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right. | 4"Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!" |
5Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth. | 5Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her beloved? The Beloved to Her Lover: Under the apple tree I aroused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth. |
6Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all. | 6Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart, like a signet on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion is as unrelenting as Sheol. Its flames burst forth, it is a blazing flame. |
7Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned. | 7Surging waters cannot quench love; floodwaters cannot overflow it. If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love, the offer would be utterly despised. |
8We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? | 8We have a little sister, and as yet she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for? |
9If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver to protect her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar. | 9If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar. |
10I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace. | 10I was a wall, and my breasts were like fortress towers. Then I found favor in his eyes. |
11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver. | 11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon; he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit. |
12But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. | 12My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone. The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon, and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit. |
13You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it! | 13O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively for your voice; let me be the one to hear it! |
14Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. | 14Make haste, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. |
|
|