Song of Songs 8 - New International Version (NIV)

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(A)—
she who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the nectar of my pomegranates.
3 His left arm is under my head
and his right arm embraces me.(B)
4 Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
Do not arouse or awaken love
until it so desires.(C)

Friends

5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness(D)
leaning on her beloved?

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
there your mother conceived(E) you,
there she who was in labor gave you birth.
6 Place me like a seal over your heart,
like a seal on your arm;
for love(F) is as strong as death,
its jealousy[a](G) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
like a mighty flame.[b]
7 Many waters cannot quench love;
rivers cannot sweep it away.
If one were to give
all the wealth of one’s house for love,
it[c] would be utterly scorned.(H)

Friends

8 We have a little sister,
and her breasts are not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall,
we will build towers of silver on her.
If she is a door,
we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

She

10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
Thus I have become in his eyes
like one bringing contentment.
11 Solomon had a vineyard(I) in Baal Hamon;
he let out his vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
a thousand shekels[d](J) of silver.
12 But my own vineyard(K) is mine to give;
the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon,
and two hundred[e] are for those who tend its fruit.

He

13 You who dwell in the gardens
with friends in attendance,
let me hear your voice!

She

14 Come away, my beloved,
and be like a gazelle(L)
or like a young stag(M)
on the spice-laden mountains.(N)

Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
  2. Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord
  3. Song of Songs 8:7 Or he
  4. Song of Songs 8:11 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
  5. Song of Songs 8:12 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms

Cross references

  1. Song of Songs 8:2 : SS 3:4
  2. Song of Songs 8:3 : SS 2:6
  3. Song of Songs 8:4 : SS 2:7; S 3:5
  4. Song of Songs 8:5 : SS 3:6
  5. Song of Songs 8:5 : S SS 3:4
  6. Song of Songs 8:6 : S SS 1:2
  7. Song of Songs 8:6 : S Nu 5:14
  8. Song of Songs 8:7 : S Pr 6:35
  9. Song of Songs 8:11 : Ecc 2:4
  10. Song of Songs 8:11 : Isa 7:23
  11. Song of Songs 8:12 : S SS 1:6
  12. Song of Songs 8:14 : S Pr 5:19
  13. Song of Songs 8:14 : S SS 2:9
  14. Song of Songs 8:14 : S SS 2:8, 17

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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.2 I would lead you and bring you into my mother’s house— she who has taught me.I would give you spiced wine to drink from the nectar of my pomegranate.3 O ...
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8 O that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at my mother’s breast!If I met you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.2 I would lead you and bring you into my mother’s house and into the chamber of the one who bore me.[a]I would give you spiced wine to drink, from the juice of...
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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(A)— she who has taught me.I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegrana...
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Song of Songs 8 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

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Song of Songs 8 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Chapter 81 Oh, if only you were to me like a brother, nursed at my mother’s breast.Then if I met you out of doors, I could kiss you without people regarding me with scorn.[a]2 I would lead you and bring you into the home of my mother.There you would teach me to give you spiced wine to drink and the ...
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Song of Songs 8 - New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Chapter 81 Would that you were a brother to me, nursed at my mother’s breasts!If I met you out of doors, I would kiss you and none would despise me.2 (A)I would lead you, bring you to my mother’s house, where you would teach me,Where I would give you to drink spiced wine, my pomegranate[a] juice.3 (...
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Song of Songs 8 - Modern English Version (MEV)

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