(a) The Church called of the Gentiles speaks thus to the Church of Jerusalem.

2 I would lead thee, and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.

3 {b} His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me.

(b) Read So 2:6.

4 {c} I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not, nor awake my love, until he please.

(c) Read So 3:5.

5 Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee.

6 {d} Set me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals of it are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

(d) The spouse desires Christ to be joined in perpetual love with him.

7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

8 {e} We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts: what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?

(e) The Jewish Church speaks this of the Church of the Gentiles.

9 {f} If she is a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver: and if she is a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.

(f) If she is sure and fast, she is fit for her husband to dwell in.

10 {g} I am a wall, and my breasts like towers: then was I in his eyes as one that found favour.

(g) The Church promises fidelity and constancy.

11 {h} Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard to keepers; every one for the fruit of it was to bring a thousand pieces of silver.

(h) This is the vineyard of the Lord hired out, Mt 21:33.

12 My vineyard, which is mine, is before me: thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof two hundred.

13 Thou that dwellest in the {i} gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice: cause me to hear it.

(i) Christ dwells in his Church, whose voice the faithful hear.

14 {k} Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of spices.

(k) The Church desires Christ that if he depart from them, yet he would haste to help them in their troubles.