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The Song of Solomon

⭑ King James Version :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

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- Chapter 8 -

1
O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.(a)
2
I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother’s house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.
3
His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.
4
I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.(b)
5
Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

If only we could be undisturbed!

6
Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.(c)
7
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

Easy to conquer?

8
We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?
9
If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.
10
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.(d)

Richer than Solomon

11
Solomon had a vineyard at Baal–hamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.
12
My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

Call only me

13
Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.
14
Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.(e)

Footnotes

(a)8:1 I should not…: Heb. they should not despise me
(b)8:4 that…: Heb. why should ye stir up, or, why, etc
(c)8:6 cruel: Heb. hard
(d)8:10 favour: Heb. peace
(e)8:14 Make…: Heb. Flee away
1
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 pomegranate.
3
His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
4
I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up, nor awaken love, until it so desires.
5
Who is this who comes up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved?

If only we could be undisturbed!

6
(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)
7
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?

8
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?
9
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.
10
I am a wall, and my breasts like towers, then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.

Richer than Solomon

11
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.
12
My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon, two hundred for those who tend its fruit.

Call only me

13
You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
14
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
(c)8:11 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so 1000 shekels is about 10 kilograms or about 22 pounds.
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