^8:1 If only you were as my brother, who nursed the breasts of my mother! When I should find you outside, I would kiss you. Yes and none would despise me. ^8:2 I would lead you and bring you into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would cause you to drink of spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate. ^8:3 His left hand under my head and his right hand should embrace me.

    ^8:4 I swear to you^*, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you^* do not stir up, nor awake my love, until it pleases.

    ^8:5 Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awoke you. There your mother was in travail with you. There she who brought you forth was in travail

    ^8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. Because love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as Sheol. The flashes of it are flashes of fire, a flame of Jehovah.

    ^8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, nor can floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.

    ^8:8 We have a little sister and she has no breasts. What will we do for our sister in the day when she will be spoken for? ^8:9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver. And if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. ^8:10 I am a wall and my breasts like the towers. Then I was in his eyes as one who found peace.

    ^8:11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon. He let out the vineyard to keepers. Every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. ^8:12My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. You, O Solomon, will have the thousand and those who keep the fruit of it, two hundred.

    ^8:13 You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice. Cause me to hear it. ^8:14 Make haste, my beloved and be like to a roe-deer or to a young male-deer upon the mountains of spices.