1 ¶ I wish you were my own brother, who nursed the breasts of my mother! when I would find you outside, I would kiss you; and no one would criticize me.

2 I would lead you, and bring you into my mother’s home, who would instruct me: I would cause you to drink of spiced wine and of the juice of my pomegranates.

3 O that his left hand was under my head, and his right hand embraced me.

4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, not to stir up or awaken my love, until he please.

5 ¶ Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree: there your mother conceived you: there the one who conceived you gave birth to you.

6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm: for love is as strong as death; jealousy is as cruel as the grave: its coals are coals of fire, which have a most vehement flame.

7 Many waters cannot put out love, nor can rivers drown it: if a man would offer all the riches in his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

8 ¶ We have a little sister, and she has no breasts: what should we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?

9 If she is a wall, we will build a palace of silver upon her: and if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.

10 I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers: when he looked at me I became happy like one who finds favor.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he put keepers in charge of the vineyard; each one was to bring a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.

12 You, O Solomon, can have a thousand, and those who keep its fruit two hundred; I look after my own vineyard, which belongs to me:.

13 ¶ You who dwell in the gardens, your companions are listening for your voice: let me hear you.

14 Hurry, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spices.