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Then, if I met you out in the open and kissed you,
no one would despise me.
2 I would lead you
and bring you to the house of my mother,
to the one who has taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink
from the juice of my pomegranates.
3 His left arm is under my head,
and his right arm embraces me.
4 I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem:
Do not stir up or awaken love until the correct time.
5 Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on the one she loves?
I awakened you under the apple tree.
There your mother conceived you;
there she was in labour and gave birth to you.
6 Set me as a seal on your heart,
as a seal on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
its jealously as unyielding as Sheol.
It burns like fiery flames;
indeed, the hottest flames of all.
7 Many waters cannot quench love,
nor can the floods sweep it away.
If a man were to give
all the wealth of his house for love,
it would be utterly scorned.
8 We have a young sister,
and her breasts have not yet grown.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day she is spoken for?
9 If she is a wall,
we will build a parapet of silver on her.
If she is a door,
we will enclose her with cedar boards.
10 I am a wall,
and my breasts are like towers.
So in his eyes I have become
one who brings contentment.
11 Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;
he leased the vineyard to tenants.
Each was to bring for its fruit
a thousand shekels of silver.
12 But my own vineyard is mine to give.
You O Solomon, may have a thousand shekels,
and two hundred for those who tend its fruit.
13 You who dwell in the gardens,
my companions are listening for your voice—
let me hear it.
14 Hurry to me, my lover,
and be like a gazelle
or like a young stag
on the spice-laden mountains.