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8. Beloved

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

   Under the apple tree I roused you;
   there your mother conceived you,
   there she who was in labor gave you birth.
⁶ Place me like a seal over your heart,
   like a seal on your arm;
for love is as strong as death,
   its jealousy Or ardor unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
   like a mighty flame. Or fire, / like the very flame of the LORD
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 Or he 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 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12 of silver.
¹² But my own vineyard is mine to give;
   the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
   and two hundred That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms are for those who tend its fruit.

    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.