Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
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
Oh that you were like my brother, Who sucked the breasts of my mother! If I found you outside, I would kiss you; Yes, 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.
2
I would lead you, bringing you into my mother's house, Who would instruct me. I would have you drink spiced wine, Of the juice of my pomegranate.
3 Your left hand is under my head, and your right hand caresses me.
3
His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
4 Promise me, women of Jerusalem, that you will not interrupt our love.
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I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, That you not stir up, nor awaken love, Until it so desires. Friends
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 who comes up from the wilderness, Leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you. There your mother conceived you. There she was in labor and bore you.
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.
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; Its flashes are flashes of fire, A very flame of Yahweh.
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.
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. Friends
8 We have a young sister, and her breasts are still small. What will we do for her when a young man comes courting?
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 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 on her a turret of silver. If she is a door, We will enclose her with boards of cedar. Beloved
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 like towers, Then I was in his eyes like one who found peace.
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 at Baal-hamon. He leased out the vineyard to keepers. Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
12 Solomon is welcome to his thousand coins, and the farmers to two hundred as their share; I have a vineyard of my own!
12
My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; Two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover
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! Beloved
14 Come to me, my lover, like a gazelle, like a young stag on the mountains where spices grow.
14
Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
The World English Bible is in the public domain.