Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 I wish that you were my brother, that my mother had nursed you at her breast. Then, if I met you in the street, I could kiss you and no one would mind.
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 take you to my mother's house, where you could teach me love. I would give you spiced wine, my pomegranate wine to drink.
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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 Your left hand is under my head, and your right hand caresses me.
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His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.
4 Promise me, women of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our love.
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Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.
5 Who is this coming from the desert, arm in arm with her lover? Under the apple tree I woke you, in the place where you were born.
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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 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.
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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 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.
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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 young sister, and her breasts are still small. What will we do for her when a young man comes courting?
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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 her a silver tower. But if she is a gate, we will protect her with panels of cedar.
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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 am a wall, and my breasts are its towers. My lover knows that with him I find contentment and peace.
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I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.
11 Solomon has a vineyard in a place called Baal Hamon. There are farmers who rent it from him; each one pays a thousand silver coins.
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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 Solomon is welcome to his thousand coins, and the farmers to two hundred as their share; I have a vineyard of my own!
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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 Let me hear your voice from the garden, my love; my companions are waiting to hear you speak.
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You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!
14 Come to me, my lover, like a gazelle, like a young stag on the mountains where spices grow.
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Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
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.