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.

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.

His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; 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.

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.

2 The Church will be taught by Christ. 3 She is upheld by him. 6 The vehement love wherewith Christ loveth her. 11 She is the vine that bringeth forth fruit to the spiritual Solomon, which is Jesus Christ.

Oh [a]that thou werest as my brother that sucked the breasts of my mother: I would find thee without, I would kiss thee, then they should not despise [b]thee.

I will lead thee and bring thee into my mother’s house: there thou shalt teach me: and I will cause thee to drink spiced wine, and new wine of the pomegranate.

[c]His left hand shall be under mine head, and his right hand shall embrace me.

[d]I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you stir not up, nor waken my love until she please.

(Who is this that cometh up out of the wilderness, leaning upon her well-beloved?) I raised thee up under an apple tree: there the mother conceived thee: there she conceived that bare thee.

[e]Set me as a seal on thine heart, and as a signet upon thine arm: for love is strong as death: jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are fiery coals, and a vehement flame.

Much water cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man should give all the substance of his house for love, they would greatly contemn it.

[f]We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister when she shall be spoken for?

[g]If she be a wall, we will build upon her a silver palace: and if she be a door, we will keep her in with boards of cedar.

10 [h]I am a wall, and my breasts are as towers: then was I in his eyes as one that findeth peace.

11 [i]Solomon had a vine in Baal Hamon: he gave the vineyard unto keepers: everyone bringeth for the fruit thereof a thousand pieces of silver.

12 But my vineyard which is mine, is before me: to thee, O Solomon, appertaineth a thousand pieces of silver, and two hundred to them that keep the fruit thereof.

13 O thou that dwellest in the [j]gardens, the companions hearken unto thy voice: cause me to hear it.

14 O my well-beloved, [k]flee away and be like unto the roe, or to the young hart upon the mountains of spices.

Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:1 The Church called of the Gentiles, speaketh thus to the Church of Jerusalem.
  2. Song of Solomon 8:1 Or, me.
  3. Song of Solomon 8:3 Read Song 2:6.
  4. Song of Solomon 8:4 Read Song 3:5.
  5. Song of Solomon 8:6 The spouse desireth Christ to be joined in perpetual love with him.
  6. Song of Solomon 8:8 The Jewish Church speaketh this of the Church of the Gentiles.
  7. Song of Solomon 8:9 If she be sure and fast, she is meet for the husband to dwell in.
  8. Song of Solomon 8:10 The Church promiseth fidelity and constancy.
  9. Song of Solomon 8:11 This is the vineyard of the Lord hired out, Matt. 21:33.
  10. Song of Solomon 8:13 Christ dwelleth in his Church, whose voice the faithful hear.
  11. Song of Solomon 8:14 The Church desireth Christ that if he depart from them, yet that he would haste to help them in their troubles.