The Song of Solomon

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 8 -

Oh that thou werest as my brother that sucked the brestes of my mother: I would finde thee without, I would kisse thee, then they should not despise thee.

I will leade thee and bring thee into my mothers house: there thou shalt teache me: and I will cause thee to drinke spiced wine, and newe wine of the pomegranate.

His left hand shalbe vnder mine head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

I charge you, O daughters of Ierusale, that you stir not vp, nor waken my loue, vntil she please.

(Who is this that commeth vp out of the wildernesse, leaning vpon her welbeloued?) I raysed thee vp vnder an apple tree: there thy mother conceiued thee: there she coceiued that bare thee.

If only we could be undisturbed!

Set mee as a seale on thine heart, and as a signet vpon thine arme: for loue is strong as death: ielousie is cruel as the graue: the coles thereof are fierie coles, and a vehement flame.

Much water can not quench loue, neither can the floods drowne it: If a man should giue all the substance of his house for loue, they would greatly contemne it.

Easy to conquer?

Wee haue a litle sister, and she hath no breastes: what shall we do for our sister when she shalbe spoken for?

If shee be a wall, we will builde vpon her a siluer palace: and if she be a doore, we wil keepe her in with bordes of cedar.

I am a wall, and my breasts are as towres: then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.

Richer than Solomon

Salomon had a vine in Baal-hamon: hee gaue the vineyarde vnto keepers: euery one bringeth for ye fruite thereof a thousand pieces of siluer.

But my vineyarde which is mine, is before me: to thee, O Salomon appertaineth a thousand pieces of siluer, and two hundreth to them that keepe the fruite thereof.

Call only me

O thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken vnto thy voyce: cause me to heare it.

O my welbeloued, flee away, and be like vnto the roe, or to the yong harte vpon ye mountaines of spices.

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.

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 pomegranate.

His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?

If only we could be undisturbed!

(5) Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you. (6) Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol.(a) Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD.(b)

Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.

Easy to conquer?

We have a little sister. She has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she is to be spoken for?

If she is a wall, we will build on 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 like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

Richer than Solomon

Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels

(c)

of silver for its fruit.

My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

Call only me

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

Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!

Footnotes

(a)8:6 Sheol is the place of the dead.

(b)8:6 When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name