The young man is now the speaker, so we may insert a marginal note or use some other means to alert the reader to the change of speaker.

Introducing this verse is the particle hinneh, which calls attention to what follows. English Behold is archaic. However, many languages have exclamatory expressions like “Oh!” or “Ah!” that can convey the meaning. We may say “Look at how beautiful…,” or “Look at you, how beautiful….”

You are beautiful: the adjective is the same as that found in verse 8, where Revised Standard Version has “fairest.” However, this word has nothing to do with light skin color; it is the ordinary term for beauty. Note that the first two lines are almost identical. The second line builds on the first by adding a term of endearment, my love. Many languages will appreciate the rhythmic repetition of the Hebrew. Bible en français courant, for example, follows the Hebrew pattern, thus maintaining the rhythm:

• How beautiful you are,
My friend!
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are as charming as doves.

When translating poetry, translators are free to change word order and to add repetition as needed:

• You are so beautiful, my love,
… so beautiful!
Your eyes are so gentle—
As gentle as doves.

If repetition is not appreciated in the language of the translation, it can be eliminated, as Good News Translation has done.

My love: see verse 9.

Your eyes are doves is a metaphor that may need to be made clearer in many languages. We can use “like doves” as a first step in indicating that the woman’s eyes are not actual doves. However, even then it is possible that the simile may not carry sufficient meaning. We may need to indicate that the dove is a small bird symbolic of gentleness, or of softness. It can also express the ability to attract. If the dove is not known, or if it has a significance other than that of softness and gentleness, it is better to replace this figure with a simple adjective like “gentle” or “soft.” Good News Translation “your eyes shine with love” does not seem to convey the meaning of the text. It is better to say:

• You are beautiful, my love, so beautiful; your eyes are so gentle.

Or:

• … as gentle as those of a bird [dove].

The theme of this verse is echoed later in the book in 4.1.

Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Zogbo, Lynell. A Handbook on the Book of Song of Songs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1998. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .