1
Laiti ungekuwa kama ndugu yangu, Aliyeyanyonya matiti ya mamangu! Kama ningekukuta huko nje, Ningekubusu, asinidharau mtu.
O that you were to me like a brother who nursed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outdoors, I would kiss you, and no one would despise me.
2
Ningekuongoza nyumbani mwa mamangu, Naye angenifundisha; Ningekunywesha divai iliyokolea,Divai mpya ya mkomamanga wangu.
I would lead you and bring you to the house of my mother who taught me. I would give you spiced wine to drink, the nectar of my pomegranates.
3
Mkono wake wa kushoto ungekuwa chini ya kichwa changu, Nao wa kuume ungenikumbatia.
His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me.
4
Nawasihi, enyi binti za Yerusalemu, Kwani kuyachochea mapenzi, au kuyaamsha, Hata yatakapoona vema?
O daughters of Jerusalem, I adjure you: Do not arouse or awaken love until the time is right.
5
Ni nani huyu apandaye kutoka nyikani, Akimtegemea mpendwa wake? Nalikuamsha chini ya huo mpera; Huko mama yako alikuonea utungu, Aliona utungu aliyekuzaa.
Who is this coming up from the wilderness, leaning on her beloved? I roused you under the apple tree; there your mother conceived you; there she travailed and brought you forth.
6
Nitie kama muhuri moyoni mwako, Kama muhuri juu ya mkono wako; Kwa maana upendo una nguvu kama mauti, Na wivu ni mkali kama ahera. Mwako wake ni mwako wa moto, Na miali yake ni miali ya Yahu.
Set me as a seal over your heart, as a seal upon your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as unrelenting as Sheol. Its sparks are fiery flames, the fiercest blaze of all.
7
Maji mengi hayawezi kuuzimisha upendo, Wala mito haiwezi kuuzamisha; Kama mtu angetoa badala ya upendo Mali yote ya nyumbani mwake, Angedharauliwa kabisa.
Mighty waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. If a man were to give all the wealth of his house for love, his offer would be utterly scorned.
8
Kwetu sisi tuna umbu mdogo, Wala hana maziwa; Tumfanyieje umbu letu, Siku atakapoposwa?
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
Kama akiwa tu ukuta, Tumjengee buruji za fedha; Na kama akiwa ni mlango, Tumhifadhi kwa mbao za mierezi.
If she is a wall, we will build a tower of silver upon her. If she is a door, we will enclose her with panels of cedar.
10
Mimi nalikuwa ukuta, Na maziwa yangu kama minara; Ndipo nikawa machoni pake Kama mtu aliyeipata amani.
I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I have become in his eyes like one who brings peace.
11
Sulemani alikuwa na shamba la mizabibu huko Baal-hamomi Akawakodisha walinzi hilo shamba lake la mizabibu; Kila mtu atoe vipande elfu vya fedha kwa matunda yake.
Solomon had a vineyard in Baal-hamon. He leased it to the tenants. For its fruit, each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver.
12
Shamba langu la mizabibu, lililo langu mimi, li mbele yangu. Basi, Sulemani, wewe uwe na elfu zako, Na hao wayalindao matunda yake wapewe mia mbili.
But my own vineyard is mine to give; the thousand shekels are for you, O Solomon, and two hundred are for those who tend its fruit.
13
Wewe ukaaye bustanini, Hao rafiki huisikiliza sauti yako; Unisikizishe mimi.
You who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!
14
Ukimbie, mpendwa wangu, Nawe uwe kama paa, au ayala, Juu ya milima ya manukato.
Come away, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices.