One of the most beloved biblical wedding readings of all time, Song of Solomon 8:6–7 has stood the test of time for good reason. These ancient verses capture something that modern language often struggles to express, that real love isn’t gentle or passive, but a force of nature. The poetry here uses bold, elemental imagery: fire, flood, death. It’s dramatic in the best possible way, and that drama carries a powerful message: love of this depth cannot be bought, bargained for, or extinguished. For couples who want a reading with real weight and beauty, this passage is hard to beat. It’s a promise disguised as a poem, and it tends to silence a room.
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
Its flashes are flashes of fire,
a raging flame.
Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can floods drown it.
If one offered for love
all the wealth of one’s house,
it would be utterly scorned.
