The Song of Songs 8:4

The Beloved to the Maidens: I admonish you, O maidens ¹  of Jerusalem: “Do not ²  arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

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

"I want you to swear, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not arouse or awaken my love Until she pleases."

"I want you to promise, O women of Jerusalem, not to awaken love until the time is right."

Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem: Don't excite love, don't stir it up, until the time is ripe--and you're ready.

I say to you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not let love be moved till it is ready.

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready!

I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, Do not stir up nor awaken love Until it pleases.

The Beloved to the Maidens: I admonish you, O maidens ¹  of Jerusalem: “Do not ²  arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

¹ tn Heb “daughters of Jerusalem.”

² tn Heb “Why arouse or awaken …?” Although the particle מָה (mah) is used most often as an interrogative pronoun (“What?” “Why?”), it also can be used as a particle of negation. For example, “How (מָה) could I look at a girl?” means “I have not looked at a girl!” (Job 31:1); “What (מַה) do we have to drink?” means “We have nothing to drink” (Exod 15:24); “What (מַה) part do we have?” means “We have no part” (1 Kgs 12:16); and “Why (מַה) arouse or awaken love?” means “Do not arouse or awaken love!” (Song 8:4). See HALOT 551 s.v. מָה C.