1 Oh, that you were like a brother to me—one who nursed at my mother’s breasts {yoneq: one who nurses}! If I found you outside, I would kiss you, and none would despise me {bazah: hold in contempt}.
2 I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house {beit: family dwelling}—she would teach me; I would make you drink spiced wine {yayin: fermented grape beverage} from the juice of my pomegranate.
3 His left hand is under my head {roshi: resting place}, and his right hand embraces {techabkeni: enfolds intimately} me.
4 I have caused you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, not to arouse or awaken love {ahava: ardent affection} until it delights {tekhpatz: volitional delight}.
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved {dodah: cherished one}? Under the apple tree {tappuach: fragrant fruit tree} I awakened you; there your mother labored with you; there she labored, she bore you.
6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love {ahavah: passionate devotion} is as strong as death, jealousy is as hard as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, a flame of Yah {Yah, Divine Intensity}.
7 Many waters {mayim: overwhelming adversity} cannot quench love, nor can rivers sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, they would utterly despise him {boz: complete contempt}.
8 We have a little {ketanah: Youthful Stage} sister, and she has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister on the day when she is spoken for {yedubbar: Being Discussed for Marriage}?
9 If she is a wall, we will build upon her a turret {tirat: fortress-like structure} of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with a board of cedar {arez: valuable cedar wood}.
10 I am a wall {chomah: steadfast defense}, and my breasts are like towers; then I was in his eyes as one who finds peace {shalom: holistic harmony}.
11 A vineyard {kerem: cultivated grape plot} belonged to Solomon at Baal-hamon; he gave the vineyard to the keepers, and each man would bring for its fruit a thousand pieces of silver {kasef: unit of currency}.
12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me; the thousand is for you, Solomon {Shlomoh: royal recipient}, and two hundred for the keepers {notrim: vineyard guardians}.
13 You who dwell {hayoshevet: continuous presence} in the gardens, companions listen to your voice; let me hear {hashmiini: cause me to hear} it.
14 Flee, my beloved {dodi: cherished one}, and be like a gazelle or a young stag of the deer on the mountains of spices {besamim: fragrant spices}.