Song of Solomon8
The Lovers Speak
1“Oh that you were like a brother to me Who nursed at my mother’s breasts. If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you; No one would despise me, either.2I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.3Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me.” 4“ I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem,Do not arouse or awaken my love
Until she pleases.” 5“ Who is this coming up from the wilderness
Leaning on her beloved?”
“ Beneath the apple tree I awakened you;
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.6Put me like a seal over your heart, Like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD.7Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.” 8“ We have a little sister,
And she has no breasts;
What shall we do for our sister
On the day when she is spoken for?9If she is a wall, We will build on her a battlement of silver; But if she is a door, We will barricade her with planks of cedar.” 10“ I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers;
Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers. Each one was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.12My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.” 13“ O you who sit in the gardens,
My companions are listening for your voice—
Let me hear it!” 14“ Hurry, my beloved,
And be like a gazelle or a young stag
On the mountains of spices.”
New American Standard Bible — NASB 2020 Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit https://www.lockman.org
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