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Song of Songs 8 :: New International Version (NIV)

Sng 8:1

Sng 8:1If only you were to me like a brother, who was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.

Sng 8:2

Sng 8:2I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house— she who has taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.

Sng 8:3

Sng 8:3His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me.

Sng 8:4

Sng 8:4Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.

Sng 8:5

Sng 8:5Friends: Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? She: Under the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth.

Sng 8:6

Sng 8:6Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy[fn] unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame.[fn]

Sng 8:7

Sng 8:7Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it[fn] would be utterly scorned.

Sng 8:8

Sng 8:8Friends: 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?

Sng 8:9

Sng 8:9If she is a wall, we will build towers of silver on her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.

Sng 8:10

Sng 8:10She: I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment.

Sng 8:11

Sng 8:11Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels[fn] of silver.

Sng 8:12

Sng 8:12But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred[fn] are for those who tend its fruit.

Sng 8:13

Sng 8:13He: You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!

Sng 8:14

Sng 8:14She: Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.
See the NIV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).
NIV Footnotes
Or ardor
Or fire, / like the very flame of the LORD
Or he
That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms; also in verse 12
That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
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