Song of Songs 8

Song of Songs 8 – New International Version (NIV)

1. If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found 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— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.
3. His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.
4. Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Friends

5. Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?

She

6. Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy^[a] unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.^[b]
7. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it^[c] would be utterly scorned.

Friends

8. We 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?
9. If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

She

10. I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.
11. Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels^[d] of silver.
12. But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred^[e] are for those who tend its fruit.

He

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

She

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

Footnotes

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Song of Songs 8 – King James Version (KJV)

1. O that thou wert as my brother, That sucked the breasts of my mother! When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; Yea, I should not be despised.
2. I would lead thee, And bring thee into my mother’s house, Who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3. His left hand should be under my head, And his right hand should embrace me.
4. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, That ye stir not up, nor awake my love, Until he please.
5. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, Leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: There thy mother brought thee forth: There she brought thee forth that bare thee.
6. Set me as a seal upon thine heart, As a seal upon thine arm: For love is strong as death; Jealousy is cruel as the grave: The coals thereof are coals of fire, Which hath a most vehement flame.
7. Many waters cannot quench love, Neither can the floods drown it: If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, It would utterly be contemned.
8. We have a little sister, And she hath no breasts: What shall we do for our sister In the day when she shall be spoken for?
9. If she be a wall, We will build upon her a palace of silver: And if she be a door, We will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10. I am a wall, And my breasts like towers: Then was I in his eyes As one that found favour.
11. Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; He let out the vineyard unto keepers; Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, And those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.
13. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, The companions hearken to thy voice: Cause me to hear it.
14. Make haste, my beloved, And be thou like to a roe Or to a young hart Upon the mountains of spices.