New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1Oh, I wish you were my brother, who nursed at my mother’s breasts. Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching, and no one would criticize me. | 1If only you were like a brother to me, like one who nursed at my mother's breasts. If I found you outside I would kiss you, and no one would view me with contempt. |
2I would bring you to my childhood home, and there you would teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, my sweet pomegranate wine. | 2I would lead you, I would bring you to the house of my mother who used to teach me. I would give you some spiced wine to drink, from the juice of my pomegranates. |
3Your left arm would be under my head, and your right arm would embrace me. | 3Let his left hand be under my head, and let his right hand embrace me. |
4Promise me, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right. Young Women of Jerusalem | 4Swear to me, young women of Jerusalem, that you won't awaken or arouse love before its proper time! |
5Who is this sweeping in from the desert, leaning on her lover? Young Woman I aroused you under the apple tree, where your mother gave you birth, where in great pain she delivered you. | 5Who is this coming up from the desert, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother had gone into labor with you; there she went into labor and gave birth to you. |
6Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. | 6Set me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, passion as intense as Sheol. The flames of love are flames of fire, a blaze that comes from the LORD. |
7Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. The Young Woman’s Brothers | 7Mighty bodies of water cannot extinguish love, rivers cannot put it out. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, he would surely be viewed with contempt. |
8We have a little sister too young to have breasts. What will we do for our sister if someone asks to marry her? | 8We have a little sister, and she has not yet reached maturity. What will we do for our sister to prepare her for her engagement? |
9If she is a virgin, like a wall, we will protect her with a silver tower. But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door, we will block her door with a cedar bar. Young Woman | 9If she's a wall, on her we will build a battlement of silver. If she's a door, we will enclose her with planks of cedar. |
10I was a virgin, like a wall; now my breasts are like towers. When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees. | 10I was a wall and my breasts were like towers. Then I became like one who finds peace in his eyes. |
11Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon, which he leases out to tenant farmers. Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver for harvesting its fruit. | 11Solomon has a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers— each one is to bring 1,000 pieces of silver in exchange for its fruit. |
12But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines. Young Man | 12My vineyard belongs to me and is at my disposal. The 1,000 are for you, Solomon, and 200 are for those who take care of its fruit. |
13O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too! Young Woman | 13You who sit in the gardens, companions are listening for your voice, but let me hear it. |
14Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. | 14Come quickly, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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