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Love, strong and invaluable

[Daughters of Jerusalem]

Who is this coming up from the wilderness
        leaning against her lover?

[Woman]

Under the apple tree I aroused you—
        there, where your mother labored with you,
        there where, laboring, she bore you.
Set me as a seal over your heart,
        as a seal upon your arm,
for love is as strong as death,
        passionate love unrelenting as the grave.[a]
Its darts are darts of fire—
        divine flame!
Rushing waters can’t quench love;
        rivers can’t wash it away.
If someone gave
        all his estate in exchange for love,
        he would be laughed to utter shame.

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Footnotes

  1. Song of Solomon 8:6 Heb Sheol

Friends

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

She

Under the apple tree I roused you;
    there your mother conceived(B) 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(C) is as strong as death,
    its jealousy[a](D) unyielding as the grave.
It burns like blazing fire,
    like a mighty flame.[b]
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[c] would be utterly scorned.(E)

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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
  3. Song of Songs 8:7 Or he