Longing for Her Beloved
1
Oh that you were like a brother to me who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.
2
I would lead you and 1bring you into the house of my mother-- she who used to teach me. I would give you 2spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
5
7Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.
6
Set me as a seal upon your heart, as 8a seal upon your arm, for 9love is strong as death, 10jealousya is fierce as the grave.b Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very 11flame of the LORD.
7
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his 12house, hec would be utterly despised.
Final Advice
8
We have a little sister, and she 13has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
9
If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with 14boards of cedar.
10
15I was a wall, and my 16breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who findsd peace.
11
Solomon had 17a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he 18let out the vineyard to 19keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit 20a thousand pieces of silver.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)