The Message Bible MSG
World English Bible WEB
1 I wish you'd been my twin brother, sharing with me the breasts of my mother, Playing outside in the street, kissing in plain view of everyone, and no one thinking anything of it.
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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'd take you by the hand and bring you home where I was raised by my mother. You'd drink my wine and kiss my cheeks.
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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 Imagine! His left hand cradling my head, his right arm around my waist!
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His left hand would be under my head. His right hand would embrace me.
4 Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe - and you're ready. The Chorus
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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 I see coming up from the country, arm in arm with her lover? I found you under the apricot tree, and woke you up to love. Your mother went into labor under that tree, and under that very tree she bore you.
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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 Hang my locket around your neck, wear my ring on your finger. Love is invincible facing danger and death. Passion laughs at the terrors of hell. The fire of love stops at nothing - it sweeps everything before it.
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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 Flood waters can't drown love, torrents of rain can't put it out. Love can't be bought, love can't be sold - it's not to be found in the marketplace.
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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 My brothers used to worry about me: "Our little sister has no breasts. What shall we do with our little sister when men come asking for her?
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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 She's a virgin and vulnerable, and we'll protect her. If they think she's a wall, we'll top it with barbed wire. If they think she's a door, we'll barricade it."
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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 Dear brothers, I'm a walled-in virgin still, but my breasts are full - And when my lover sees me, he knows he'll soon be satisfied.
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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 King Solomon may have vast vineyards in lush, fertile country, Where he hires others to work the ground. People pay anything to get in on that bounty.
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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 But my vineyard is all mine, and I'm keeping it to myself. You can have your vast vineyards, Solomon, you and your greedy guests!
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My own vineyard is before me. The thousand are for you, Solomon; Two hundred for those who tend its fruit. Lover
13 Oh, lady of the gardens, my friends are with me listening. Let me hear your voice!
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You who dwell in the gardens, with friends in attendance, Let me hear your voice! Beloved
14 Run to me, dear lover. Come like a gazelle. Leap like a wild stag on the spice mountains.
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Come away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices!