Song of Solomon 8 - Common English Bible (CEB)

Wishing

[Woman]

8 If only you were as my brother—
the one who nursed at my mother’s breast.
I would find you in the street and kiss you,
and no one would shame me for it.
2 I would lead you, I would bring you
to my mother’s house;
she would teach me what to do.[a]
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
some of my fresh pomegranate juice.

3 His left arm is beneath my head,
and his right embraces me!

4 Make a solemn pledge,
daughters of Jerusalem,
never to rouse, never to arouse love
until it desires.

Love, strong and invaluable

[Daughters of Jerusalem]

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness
leaning against her lover?

[Woman]

Under the apple tree I aroused you—
there, where your mother labored with you,
there where, laboring, she bore you.
6 Set me as a seal over your heart,
as a seal upon your arm,
for love is as strong as death,
passionate love unrelenting as the grave.[b]
Its darts are darts of fire—
divine flame!
7 Rushing waters can’t quench love;
rivers can’t wash it away.
If someone gave
all his estate in exchange for love,
he would be laughed to utter shame.

[The Woman’s Brothers]

8 Our sister is small;
she has no breasts.
What will we do for our sister
on the day that she is spoken for?
9 If she is a city wall,
then we will build a turret of silver on her.[c]
And if she is a door,
then we will barricade her[d] with a panel of cedar.

[Woman]

10 I’m a city wall,
and my breasts are the towers.
So now I’m in his eyes
as one who brings peace.

[Man]

11 Solomon had a vineyard
in Baal-hamon.
He gave charge of the vineyard to keepers;
one would bring in exchange for its fruit
a thousand pieces of silver.
12 My vineyard, my very own, is before me.
You can have the thousand, Solomon[e]
with two hundred for those who tend the fruit!

13 You who sit in the gardens,
my companions are listening for your voice.
Let me hear it!

[Woman]

14 “Take flight, my love,
and be like a gazelle
or a young stag
on the mountains of spice!”

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:2 Or you would teach me; LXX, Syr to my mother's house, and to the chamber of the one who conceived me (cf 3:4)
  2. Song of Solomon 8:6 Heb Sheol
  3. Song of Solomon 8:9 Or on it (the city wall)
  4. Song of Solomon 8:9 Or it (the door)
  5. Song of Solomon 8:12 Cf 1 Kgs 11:3

You Might Also Like:

Song of Solomon 8 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

8 Who doth make thee as a brother to me, Sucking the breasts of my mother? I find thee without, I kiss thee, Yea, they do not despise me, 2 I lead thee, I bring thee in unto my mother's house, She doth teach me, I cause thee to drink of the perfumed wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate, 3 His left h...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

8 Who may grant to me thee, my brother, sucking the teats of my mother, that I find thee alone withoutforth, and that I kiss thee, and no man despise me then? (Who shall grant me, that thou be my brother, yea, he who hath sucked at my mother’s breasts, so that if I find thee alone outside, and I kis...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - World English Bible (WEB)

8 Oh that you were like my brother, who nursed from the breasts of my mother!If I found you outside, I would kiss you; yes, and no one would despise me.2 I would lead you, bringing you into the house of my mother, who would instruct me.I would have you drink spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegrana...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - The Voice (VOICE)

Why would she break the parallel language and say that he “has desire” for her instead of saying he “belongs” to her as she does to him? Certainly he does belong to her, now that they are intimately bound in covenant. Her words may be said in light of Genesis 3:16, the passage where God outlines hum...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

8 O that you were like a brother to me, that nursed at my mother’s breast!If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me.2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her that conceived me.[a]I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice ...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Young Woman8 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.2 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.3 ...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New Life Version (NLV)

8 “O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed from my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would hate me. 2 I would lead you and bring you into the house of my mother, who used to teach me. I would give you wine with spices to drink, made from my pomegranates...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Lovers Reunited at Their Country Home8 Oh, that you were like my brother,Who nursed at my mother’s breasts!If I should find you outside,I would kiss you;I would not be despised.2 I would lead you and bring youInto the (A)house of my mother,She who used to instruct me.I would cause you to drink of (B...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

8 If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts!Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house – she who has taught me.I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranate...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New English Translation (NET)

The Beloved’s Wish SongThe Beloved to Her Lover:8 Oh, how I wish you were[a] my little brother,[b]nursing at my mother’s breasts;if I saw[c] you outside, I could kiss you—surely[d] no one would despise me![e]2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house,the one who taught me.[f]I would give ...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New Century Version (NCV)

8 I wish you were like my brother who fed at my mother’s breasts.If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house; she is the one who taught me.I would give you a drink of spiced wine from my pomegranates. The Woman Spea...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New American Standard Bible 1995 (NASB1995)

The Lovers Speak8 “Oh that you were like a brother to meWho nursed at my mother’s breasts.If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;No one would despise me, either.2 “I would lead you and (A)bring youInto the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;I would give you spiced wine to drink from the ...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

The Lovers Speak8 “Oh that you were like a brother to meWho nursed at my mother’s breasts.If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you;No one would despise me, either.2 I would lead you and (A)bring youInto the house of my mother, who used to instruct me;I would give you spiced wine to drink from the j...
Read More

Song of Solomon 8 - Names of God Bible (NOG)

8 If only you were my brother, one who nursed at my mother’s breasts. If I saw you on the street, I would kiss you, and no one would look down on me.2 I would lead you. I would bring you into my mother’s house. (She is the one who was my teacher.) I would give you some spiced wine to drink, some jui...
Read More