GodsWord - Song of Solomon - 8

8:1  If only you were my brother, one who nursed at my mother's breasts. If I saw you on the street, I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.

8:2  I would lead you. I would bring you into my mother's house. (She is the one who was my teacher.) I would give you some spiced wine to drink, some juice squeezed from my pomegranates.

8:3  His left hand is under my head. His right hand caresses me.

8:4  Young women of Jerusalem, swear to me that you will not awaken love or arouse love before its proper time!

8:5  Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness with her arm around her beloved? Under the apple tree I woke you up. There your mother went into labor with you. There she went into labor and gave birth to you!

8:6  Wear me as a signet ring on your heart, as a ring on your hand. Love is as overpowering as death. Devotion is as unyielding as the grave. Love's flames are flames of fire, flames that come from the LORD.

8:7  Raging water cannot extinguish love, and rivers will never wash it away. If a man exchanged all his family's wealth for love, people would utterly despise him.

8:8  We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?

8:9  If she is a wall, we will build a silver barrier around her. If she is a door, we will barricade her with cedar boards.

8:10  I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So he considers me to be one who has found peace.

8:11  Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He entrusted that vineyard to caretakers. Each one was to bring 25 pounds of silver in exchange for its fruit.

8:12  My own vineyard is in front of me. That 25 pounds is yours, Solomon, and 5 pounds go to those who take care of its fruit.

8:13  Young woman living in the gardens, while your friends are listening to your voice, let me hear. . . .

8:14  Come away quickly, my beloved. Run like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.