The Power and Preciousness of Love

1“Oh that you were like a brother to me

Who nursed at my mother’s breasts.

If I found you outside, I would kiss you;

No one would despise me, either.

2I would lead you and bring you

Into the house of my mother, who used to teach me;

I would give you spiced wine to drink from the sweet wine of my pomegranates.

3Let his left hand be under my head

And his right hand embrace me.”

4“[†]I call you to solemnly swear, O daughters of Jerusalem,

[†]Why should you arouse or awaken my love

Until [†]she pleases?”

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.

6Put 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 [†]Yah.

7Many 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“[†]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?

9If 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.”

10“[†]I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers;

Then I became in his eyes as one who finds peace.

11Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;

He gave the vineyard to caretakers.

Each one was to bring [†]one thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.

12My very own vineyard is before me;

The thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,

And two hundred are for those who take care of its fruit.”

13“[†]O you who sit in the gardens,

My companions are giving heed to your voice—

Let me hear it!”

14“[†]<,>[†]Hurry, my beloved,

And be like a gazelle or a young [†]stag

On the mountains of spices.”