Song Of Songs 8
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
NLT — New Living Translation Bible (NLT)
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, I wish you were my brother,
who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching,
and no one would criticize me.
who nursed at my mother’s breasts.
Then I could kiss you no matter who was watching,
and no one would criticize me.
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 bring you to my childhood home,
and there you would teach me.[a]
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
my sweet pomegranate wine.
and there you would teach me.[a]
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
my sweet pomegranate wine.
Verse 3
Your left arm is under my head.
Your right arm is around me.
Your right arm is around me.
Your left arm would be under my head,
and your right arm would embrace me.
and your right arm would embrace me.
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
Promise me, O women of Jerusalem,
not to awaken love until the time is right.[b]
not to awaken love until the time is right.[b]
Young Women of Jerusalem
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 sweeping in from the desert,
leaning on her lover?
leaning on her lover?
Young Woman
I aroused you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave you birth,
where in great pain she delivered you.
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.
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 tried to buy love
with all his wealth,
his offer would be utterly scorned.
nor can rivers drown it.
If a man tried to buy love
with all his wealth,
his offer would be utterly scorned.
The Young Woman’s Brothers
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
too young to have breasts.
What will we do for our sister
if someone asks to marry her?
too young to have breasts.
What will we do for our sister
if someone asks to marry her?
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 virgin, like a wall,
we will protect her with a silver tower.
But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door,
we will block her door with a cedar bar.
we will protect her with a silver tower.
But if she is promiscuous, like a swinging door,
we will block her door with a cedar bar.
Young Woman
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 virgin, like a wall;
now my breasts are like towers.
When my lover looks at me,
he is delighted with what he sees.
now my breasts are like towers.
When my lover looks at me,
he is delighted with what he sees.
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 has a vineyard at Baal-hamon,
which he leases out to tenant farmers.
Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver
for harvesting its fruit.
which he leases out to tenant farmers.
Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver
for harvesting 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
But my vineyard is mine to give,
and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver.
But I will give two hundred pieces
to those who care for its vines.
and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver.
But I will give two hundred pieces
to those who care for its vines.
Young Man
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 my darling, lingering in the gardens,
your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.
Let me hear it, too!
your companions are fortunate to hear your voice.
Let me hear it, too!
Young Woman
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.”
Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle
or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
or a young stag on the mountains of spices.