Love Is Strong as Death

^[9] and your mouth like the best wine. SheMay the wine go straight to my beloved, flowing gently over lips and teeth. ^[10] I belong to my beloved, and his desire is for me. ^[11] Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. ^[12] Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom- there I will give you my love. ^[13] The mandrakes send out their fragrance, and at our door is every delicacy, both new and old, that I have stored up for you, my beloved. ^[1] If 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. ^[2] I 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. ^[3] His left arm is under my head and his right arm embraces me. ^[4] Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires. ^[5]Friends Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved? SheUnder the apple tree I roused you; there your mother conceived you, there she who was in labor gave you birth. ^[6] Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. ^[7] Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If one were to give all the wealth of one’s house for love, it would be utterly scorned. ^[8]Friends 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? ^[9] If 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. ^[10]She I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. Thus I have become in his eyes like one bringing contentment. ^[11] Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon; he let out his vineyard to tenants. Each was to bring for its fruit a thousand shekels of silver. ^[12] But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit. ^[13]He You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice! ^[14]She Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or like a young stag on the spice-laden mountains.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION