Song 8:1"Oh, that you were like a brother to me, Who nursed at the breasts of my mother. If I found you out of doors, I would kiss you; No one would blame me or despise me, either. [Ps 143:6]
Song 8:2"I would lead you and bring you Into the house of my mother, who used to instruct me; I would give you spiced wine to drink from the juice of my pomegranates.
Song 8:3"Let his left hand be under my head And his right hand embrace me." [Ex 19:4; Deut 33:27]
Song 8:4¶ "I command you to take an oath, O daughters of Jerusalem, That you do not rouse nor awaken my love Until she pleases."
Song 8:5¶ "Who is this coming up from the wilderness Leaning upon her beloved?" "Under the apple tree I awakened you [to my love]; There your mother was in labor with you, There she was in labor and gave you birth.
Song 8:6¶ "Put me like a seal on your heart, Like a seal on your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, [A most vehement flame] the very flame of the LORD! [Deut 4:24; Is 49:16; 1 Cor 10:22]
Song 8:7"Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can rivers drown it. If a man would offer all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly scorned and despised."
Song 8:8¶ "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 [in marriage]?
Song 8:9"If she is a wall (discreet, womanly), We will build on her a turret (dowry) of silver; But if she is a door (bold, flirtatious), We will enclose her with planks of cedar."
Song 8:10¶ "I was a wall, and my breasts were like the towers. Then I became in the king's eyes As one [to be respected and allowed] to find peace.
Song 8:11"Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon; He entrusted the vineyard to caretakers; Each one was to bring him a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
Song 8:12"My very own vineyard is at my disposal; The thousand [shekels of silver] are for you, O Solomon, And two hundred are for those who tend the fruit."
Song 8:13¶ "O you who sit in the gardens, My companions are listening for your voice-- Let me hear it."
Song 8:14¶ "Hurry, my beloved and come quickly, Like a gazelle or a young stag [taking me home] On the mountains of spices."