English Standard Version ESV
          
          
            New International Version NIV
          
            
              1 Oh 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 none would despise me.
            
            
                1
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 into the house of my mother—she who used to teach me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
            
            
                2
I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.            
            
              3 His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!
            
            
                3
His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.            
            
              4 I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.
            
            
                4
Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.            
            
              5 Who is that coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I awakened you. There your mother was in labor with you; there she who bore you was in labor.
            
            
                5
Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.            
            
              6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave.  Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.
            
            
                6
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.            
            
              7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.
            
            
                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 would be utterly scorned.            
            
              8  We have a little sister, and she has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
            
            
                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 on her a battlement of silver, but if she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
            
            
                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.            
            
              10  I was a wall, and my breasts were like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace.
            
            
                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 at Baal-hamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver.
            
            
                11
Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver.            
            
              12 My vineyard, my very own, is before me; you, O Solomon, may have the thousand, and the keepers of the fruit two hundred.
            
            
                12
But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.            
            
              13  O you who dwell in the gardens, with companions listening for your voice; let me hear it.
            
            
                13
You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!            
            
              14  Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.
            
            
                14
Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.            
          
            
              The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
            
            
              Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011  by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.