Add parallel Print Page Options

Close your heart to every love but mine;
    hold no one in your arms but me.
Love is as powerful as death;
    passion is as strong as death itself.
It bursts into flame
    and burns like a raging fire.
Water cannot put it out;
    no flood can drown it.
But if any tried to buy love with their wealth,
    contempt is all they would get.

The Woman's Brothers

We have a young sister,
    and her breasts are still small.
What will we do for her
    when a young man comes courting?

Read full chapter

Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love(A) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](B) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]
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.(C)

Friends

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?

Read full chapter

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