OET interlinear SNG 1:7

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche

שֶׁ֤⁠אָהֲבָה֙ נַפְשִׁ֔⁠י

whom,loves soul_of,my

The woman is using one part of herself, her soul, to represent all of her. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression from your culture or state the meaning plainly. Alternate translation: [you, the man whom I love]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

אֵיכָ֣ה תִרְעֶ֔ה

where pasture

The woman is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need to be complete. You could supply these words from the context if it would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [where do you graze your flock] or [where do you graze your sheep]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / rquestion

שַׁ⁠לָּ⁠מָ֤ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ כְּ⁠עֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽי⁠ךָ

for,to/for,why? be like,veiled on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in flocks_of companions_of,your

Here the woman is not asking for information but is using the question form for emphasis. If you would not use a rhetorical question for this purpose in your language, you could translate her words as a statement or an exclamation and communicate the emphasis in another way. Alternate translation: [I do not want to be like a woman who covers herself beside the flocks of your companions] or [Tell me so that I will not be like a woman who covers herself beside the flocks of your companions]

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

כְּ⁠עֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽי⁠ךָ

like,veiled on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in flocks_of companions_of,your

The author assumes that his readers will understand that covers herself means “covers herself with a veil.” The phrase your companions refers to the other shepherds who pastured their animals near the flocks of the man; they were probably his friends. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [like a woman who covers herself with a veil beside the flocks of the other shepherds]

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / simile

שַׁ⁠לָּ⁠מָ֤ה אֶֽהְיֶה֙ כְּ⁠עֹ֣טְיָ֔ה עַ֖ל עֶדְרֵ֥י חֲבֵרֶֽי⁠ךָ

for,to/for,why? be like,veiled on/upon/above/on_account_of//he/it_went_in flocks_of companions_of,your

The woman does not want to look like a woman who covers herself because in her culture, prostitutes often covered their faces with a veil so that people would not recognize them. She did not want to be mistaken for a prostitute while attempting to find him. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state that explicitly. Alternate translation: [For why should I be like a prostitute who covers herself with a veil and wanders around among the flocks of your companions]