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I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you never [again attempt to] stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

Who is this who comes up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved? [And as they sighted the home of her childhood, the bride said] Under the apple tree I awakened you; there your mother gave you birth, there she was in travail and bore you.

Set me like a seal upon your heart, like a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy is as hard and cruel as Sheol (the place of the dead). Its flashes are flashes of fire, a most vehement flame [the very flame of the Lord]!(A)

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Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you:
    Do not arouse or awaken love
    until it so desires.(A)

Friends

Who is this coming up from the wilderness(B)
    leaning on her beloved?

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(C) you,
    there she who was in labor gave you birth.
Place me like a seal over your heart,
    like a seal on your arm;
for love(D) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](E) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Songs 8:6 Or ardor
  2. Song of Songs 8:6 Or fire, / like the very flame of the Lord