Song of Solomon 8

The bride longs for open affection with her beloved and again charges the daughters of Jerusalem not to awaken love before its time. She declares that love is strong as death, jealousy fierce as the grave, and its flames are a most vehement flame that many waters cannot quench. The brothers speak of guarding their young sister, and the bride offers her own vineyard freely, telling Solomon to keep his thousand.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	O that thou wert as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! when I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; yea, I should not be despised.	Oh, that you were like my brother who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
2	I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.	I would lead you and bring you into my mother's house — she who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the juice of my pomegranate.
3	His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.	His left hand would be under my head, and his right hand would embrace me.
4	I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please.	I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem: do not stir up nor awaken love until it pleases.
5	Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.	Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I awakened you under the apple tree. There your mother labored with you; there she who bore you was in labor.
6	Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.	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 flames are flames of fire — a most vehement flame.
7	Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.	Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
8	We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?	We have a little sister, and she has no breasts yet. What shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for?
9	If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she be a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.	If she is a wall, we will build upon her a battlement of silver. If she is a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar.
10	I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.	I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Then I was in His eyes as one who found favor.
11	Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.	Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon. He leased the vineyard to keepers; each one was to bring a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.
12	My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.	My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. You, O Solomon, may have your thousand, and those who tend its fruit two hundred.
13	Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.	You who dwell in the gardens, the companions listen for your voice — let me hear it.
14	Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices.	Make haste, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.