Chapter 8

8 O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me. I would lead you, I would bring you into my mother's house, who would instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink, of the juice of my pomegranate. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, why should you stir up or awaken love until it pleases? Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother was in labor with you, there she who bore you was in labor. Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is cruel as the grave; its flashes are flashes of fire, a mighty flame of Hashem. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man offered all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned. We have a little sister, and she has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for? If she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret of silver; if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers; then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver. My own vineyard is before me; the thousand are for you, Solomon, and two hundred for the keepers of its fruit. You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice; let me hear it. Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag upon the mountains of spices.