Song of Solomon 8 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

8 If you were a baby, like my little brother nursing at his mother’s breasts,
and if I found you outside,
I could kiss you,
and no one would say it was wrong.
2 I would lead you into my mother’s house,
to the room of she who taught me.
I would give you spiced wine
squeezed from my pomegranate.

She Speaks to the Women

3 His left arm is under my head,
and his right hand holds me.

4 Women of Jerusalem, promise me,
don’t awaken love,
don’t arouse love, until I am ready.[a]

The Women of Jerusalem Speak

5 Who is this woman
coming from the desert, leaning on her lover?

She Speaks to Him

I woke you under the apple tree,
where your mother gave birth to you,
where you were born.
6 Keep me near you like a seal you wear over your heart,
like a signet ring you wear on your hand.
Love is as strong as death.
Passion is as strong as the grave.[b]
Its sparks become a flame,
and it grows to become a great fire[c]!
7 A flood cannot put out love.
Rivers cannot drown love.
Would people despise a man for giving
everything he owns for love?

Her Brothers Speak

8 We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What should we do for our sister
when a man comes asking to marry her?

9 If she were a wall,
we would put silver trim[d] around her.
If she were a door,
we would put a cedar board around her.

She Answers Her Brothers

10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are my towers.
And he is satisfied with me![e]

He Speaks

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon.
He put men in charge of the vineyard.
Each man brought in grapes
worth 1000 shekels[f] of silver.

12 Solomon, you can keep your 1000 shekels.
Give 200 shekels to each man for the grapes he brought.
But I will keep my own vineyard.

He Speaks to Her

13 There you are, sitting in the garden.
Friends are listening to your voice.
Let me hear it too!

She Speaks to Him

14 Hurry, my lover!
Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains of spice.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:4 until I am ready Literally, “until it desires.”
  2. Song of Solomon 8:6 the grave Or “Sheol,” the place where dead people go.
  3. Song of Solomon 8:6 great fire Or “the flame of the Lord.”
  4. Song of Solomon 8:9 trim Or “supports.” Often horizontal beams and towers were built into walls to strengthen and support them. But here, this seems to be a decoration.
  5. Song of Solomon 8:10 he is satisfied with me Literally, “in his eyes I find peace.” In Hebrew this is also like the names “Solomon” and “Shulamith.”
  6. Song of Solomon 8:11 1000 shekels About 25 pounds (11.5 kg). Also in verse 12.

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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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 ...
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