8:1  "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.

8:2  "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.

8:3  "Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me."

8:4  "I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken {my} love Until she pleases."

8:5  "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."

8:6  "Put 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.

8:7  "Many 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."

8:8  "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?

8:9  "If 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."

8:10  "I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

8:11  "Solomon 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.

8:12  "My 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."

8:13  "O you who sit in the gardens, {My} companions are listening for your voice-- Let me hear it!"

8:14  "Hurry, my beloved, And be like a gazelle or a young stag On the mountains of spices."