Song of Solomon 8:1–8

• A 1 O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother's breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
  • B 2 I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.
    • C 3 His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.

4 O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.

• D 5a Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you;
  • E 5b your mother (CENTER)
• D' 5c there she travailed and brought you forth.

• C' 6 Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.

• B' 7 Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.

• A' 8 We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?