D?d

5Who is this coming up from the desert,

leaning upon her lover?

W

Beneath the apple tree I awakened you;*

there your mother conceived you;

there she who bore you conceived.

6Set me as a seal* upon your heart,

as a seal upon your arm;

For Love is strong as Death,

longing is fierce as Sheol.

Its arrows are arrows of fire,

flames of the divine.

7e Deep waters* cannot quench love,

nor rivers sweep it away.

Were one to offer all the wealth of his house for love,

he would be utterly despised.

W

8“We have a little sister;*

she has no breasts as yet.

What shall we do for our sister

on the day she is spoken for?

9If she is a wall,

we will build upon her a silver turret;

But if she is a door,

we will board her up with cedar planks.”

10I am a wall,*

and my breasts are like towers.

I became in his eyes

as one who brings peace.

11M? Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-hamon;*

he gave over the vineyard to caretakers.

For its fruit one would have to pay

a thousand silver pieces.

12My vineyard is at my own disposal;

the thousand pieces are for you, Solomon,

and two hundred for the caretakers of its fruit.

M

13You who dwell in the gardens,*

my companions are listening for your voice—

let me hear it!

Wf

14Swiftly, my lover,

be like a gazelle or a young stag

upon the mountains of spices.