Song Of Songs 8
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)
Verse 1
“I wish you were like a brother to me.
I wish my mother’s breasts had nursed you.
Then if I found you outside,
I could kiss you.
No one would look down on me.
I wish my mother’s breasts had nursed you.
Then if I found you outside,
I could kiss you.
No one would look down on me.
“Oh, that you were like a brother to me,
Who nursed at the breasts of my mother.
If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you;
No one would blame me or despise me, either.
Who nursed at the breasts of my mother.
If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you;
No one would blame me or despise me, either.
Verse 2
I’d bring you to my mother’s house.
She taught me everything I know.
I’d give you spiced wine to drink.
It’s the juice of my pomegranates.
She taught me everything I know.
I’d give you spiced wine to drink.
It’s the juice of my pomegranates.
“I 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.
Verse 3
Your left arm is under my head.
Your right arm is around me.
Your right arm is around me.
“Let his left hand be under my head
And his right hand embrace me.”
(The Bridegroom)
Verse 4
Women of Jerusalem, make me a promise.
Don’t stir up love.
Don’t wake it up until it’s ready.”
Don’t stir up love.
Don’t wake it up until it’s ready.”
The other women say
“I command you to take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem,
That you do not rouse nor awaken my love
Until she pleases.”
(The Chorus)
Verse 5
“Who is this woman coming up from the desert?
She’s leaning on the one who loves her.”
She’s leaning on the one who loves her.”
The woman says to the king
“Under the apple tree I woke you up.
That’s where your mother became pregnant with you.
She went into labor, and you were born there.
“Who is this coming up from the wilderness
Leaning upon her beloved?”
(The Shulammite Bride)
“Under the apple tree I awakened you [to my love];
There your mother was in labor with you,
There she was in labor and gave you birth.
Verse 6
Hold me close to your heart where your royal seal is worn.
Keep me as close to yourself as the bracelet on your arm.
My love for you is so strong it won’t let you go.
Love is as powerful as death.
Love’s jealousy is as strong as the grave.
Love is like a blazing fire.
Love burns like a mighty flame.
Keep me as close to yourself as the bracelet on your arm.
My love for you is so strong it won’t let you go.
Love is as powerful as death.
Love’s jealousy is as strong as the grave.
Love is like a blazing fire.
Love burns like a mighty flame.
“Put me like a seal on your heart,
Like a seal on your arm;
For love is as strong as death,
Jealousy is as severe and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead).
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
[A most vehement flame] the very flame of the [a]Lord!
Verse 7
No amount of water can put it out.
Rivers can’t sweep it away.
Suppose someone offers
all their wealth to buy love.
That won’t even come close to being enough.”
Rivers can’t sweep it away.
Suppose someone offers
all their wealth to buy love.
That won’t even come close to being enough.”
The woman’s brothers say
“Many waters cannot quench love,
Nor can rivers drown it.
If a man would offer all the riches of his house for love,
It would be utterly scorned and despised.”
(The Chorus)
Verse 8
“We have a little sister.
Her breasts are still small.
What should we do for our sister
when she gets engaged?
Her breasts are still small.
What should we do for our sister
when she gets engaged?
“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 [in marriage]?
Verse 9
If she were a wall,
we’d build silver towers on her.
If she were a door,
we’d cover her with cedar boards.”
we’d build silver towers on her.
If she were a door,
we’d cover her with cedar boards.”
The woman says to the king
“If she is a wall (discreet, womanly),
We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver;
But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious),
We will enclose her with planks of cedar.”
(The Shulammite Bride)
Verse 10
“I am a wall.
My breasts are like well-built towers.
So in your eyes I’ve become
like someone who makes you happy.
My breasts are like well-built towers.
So in your eyes I’ve become
like someone who makes you happy.
“I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers.
Then I became in the king’s eyes
As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.
Verse 11
Solomon, you had a vineyard in Baal Hamon.
You rented your vineyard to others.
They had to pay 25 pounds
of silver for its fruit.
You rented your vineyard to others.
They had to pay 25 pounds
of silver for its fruit.
“Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers;
Each one was to bring him a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
Verse 12
But I can give my own vineyard to anyone I want to.
So I give my 25 pounds of silver to you, Solomon.
Give 5 pounds to those who take care of its fruit.”
So I give my 25 pounds of silver to you, Solomon.
Give 5 pounds to those who take care of its fruit.”
The king says
“My very own vineyard is at my disposal;
The thousand [shekels of silver] are for you, O Solomon,
And two hundred are for those who tend the fruit.”
(The Bridegroom)
Verse 13
“My love, you live in the gardens.
My friends listen for your voice.
But let me hear it now.”
My friends listen for your voice.
But let me hear it now.”
The woman says
“O you who sit in the gardens,
My companions are listening for your voice—
Let me hear it.”
(The Shulammite Bride)
Verse 14
“Come away with me, my love.
Be like an antelope
or like a young deer
on mountains that are full of spices.”
Be like an antelope
or like a young deer
on mountains that are full of spices.”
“Hurry, my beloved and come quickly,
Like a gazelle or a young stag [taking me home]
On the mountains of spices.”