The Song of Songs 8:13

The Lover to His Beloved: O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively ¹  for your voice; let me be the one to ²  hear it! ³ 

You who dwell in the gardens with friends in attendance, let me hear your voice!

"O you who sit in the gardens, My companions are listening for your voice— Let me hear it!"

Young Man: "O my beloved, lingering in the gardens, how wonderful that your companions can listen to your voice. Let me hear it, too!

Oh, lady of the gardens, my friends are with me listening. Let me hear your voice!

You who have your resting-place in the gardens, the friends give ear to your voice; make me give ear to it.

O you who dwell in the gardens, my companions are listening for your voice; let me hear it.

THE BELOVED You who dwell in the gardens, The companions listen for your voice––Let me hear it!

The Lover to His Beloved: O you who stay in the gardens, my companions are listening attentively ¹  for your voice; let me be the one to ²  hear it! ³ 

¹ tn The term מַקְשִׁיבִים (maqshivim) is in the Hiphil stem which denotes an intense desire to hear someone’s voice, that is, to eagerly listen for someone’s voice (e.g., Jer 6:17) (HALOT 1151 s.v. קשׁב 1). The participle functions verbally and denotes a continual, ongoing, durative action.

² tc The editors of BHS suggests that גַם אָנִי (gam ’ani, “me also”) should be inserted. Although there is no textual evidence for the insertion, it seems clear that the 1st person common singular referent is emphatic in MT הַשְׁמִיעִינִי (hashmi’ini, “Let me hear it!”).

³ tn The imperative הַשְׁמִיעִינִי (hashmi’ini) functions as a request. The lover asks his beloved to let him hear her beautiful voice (e.g., Song 2:14).