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Promise this to me, young women of Jerusalem:
    Do not cause our love to wake up.
Do not cause it to become too strong
    until the time is right.

The young women of Jerusalem:

Who is this who is coming from the desert?
Her head is on her lover's shoulder.

The young woman:

Under the apple tree,
    I caused your love to wake.
That is the place where your mother became pregnant.
    In that place too, your mother gave birth to you in pain.

Keep me near to you, like a seal over your heart.[a]
    Keep me like a seal on your arm.
Keep me there always,
    because love is as powerful as death.
    It keeps hold of people as strongly as the grave does.
Love burns like a hot fire.
    It burns with bright flames.

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Footnotes

  1. 8:6 A man might put a seal on something to show that it belongs to him. He might hang a valuable thing around his neck. Or he might wear it on his arm or on his finger.