Turn back, turn back [you] perfect one, turn back, turn back, that we may observe you; what can you see [offer] the perfect one that equals the encirclement of the camps?

Return return, O Shulammite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will you see in the Shulammite? as it were the dance at Maĥanayim.

[The nations, to Israel:] Turn away, turn away [from G-d], O Shulamith [(you who are perfect [shalem] in faith with Him)]. Turn away, turn away [to us] and we will seek out [(high positions] for you. [Israel responds:] What can you seek out for Shulamith like [i.e., equal in grandeur to] the [flag] encirclement [of the desert]?

How fair were your feet in sandals, O daughter of nobles; the roundness of your flanks, are like jewels, the work of a craftsman.

How beautiful are thy feet in sandals, O prince’s daughter! thy rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of the hands of an artist.

[The nations respond: We desire you to cling to us because of the beauty and the prominence we beheld in you in your pristine glory, viz.:] How beautiful are your steps in sandals [(in the festival pilgrimages to the Temple)], O daughter of princes! The recesses of your thighs are like jewel-work, the work of the Master.

Your navel is like a round bowl, which lacks not for mixed wines; your stomach is like a heap of wheat, hedged about with roses.

Thy navel is like a round goblet, that never lacks blended wine: thy belly is like a heap of wheat set about with lilies.

Your navel is like the basin of the moon, not lacking the [exact] measure. Your belly is a swell of wheat, hedged about with lilies.

Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.

Thy two breasts are like two fawns, the twins of a gazelle.

Your two breasts [(the tablets)] are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle.

Your neck is like an ivory tower; your eyes are like pools in Cheshbon, at the gate of the populated city, your face is like a tower of Levanon looking out as far as Damascus.

Thy neck is like a tower of ivory; thy eyes like the pools in Ḥeshbon, by the gate of Bat-rabbim: thy nose is like the tower of the Levanon which looks toward Dammeseq.

Your neck [(the sanctuary, the altar, and the Lishkath Hagazith [the Chamber of Hewn Stone)] is like an ivory tower. Your eyes [i.e., your sages] are like the pools of Cheshbon above the gates [of judgment] of the many-peopled city [i.e., Jerusalem]. Your forehead is like the Tower of the Levanon, which overlooks the face of Damascus.

That which is upon your head is like Mount Carmel, and the braid of your head is like [royal] purple wool; your King is bound in its tresses.

Thy head upon thee is like the Karmel, and the hair of thy head like purple: a king is caught in its tresses.

[The phylacteries of] your head [lie] upon you like the [(strength of the] Karmel [viz. Deuteronomy 28:10)]; and the [Nazirite] gathering [of your hair into locks lies on] your head, like [royal] purple, like the King bound in locks. [viz. Numbers 6:7]

How beautiful and pleasant are you; a love with delights.

How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!

How fair and how pleasant [it would be to cleave to you] with a love [worthy of] delights!

Such is your stature, likened to a [stately] palm tree; and your breasts are like clusters.

This thy stature is like a palm tree, and thy breasts are like clusters of grapes.

This, your [exalted] stature can be likened to a [stately] palm, and your [bountiful] breasts to [grape] clusters.

I said, I will ascend the palm tree, I will grasp its branches; and now, let your breasts remain like clusters of the vine, and the fragrance of your face like apples.

I said, I will go up into the palm tree, I will take hold of its boughs: may thy breasts be like clusters of the vine, and the scent of thy countenance like apples;

[G-d, to Israel in exile:] I said: I will go up into the palm-tree; I will take hold of its leaves [i.e., I will be sanctified by you among the nations]. And, now, let your breasts be as grape clusters, and the fragrance of your face like apples [i.e., Let your sages affirm your unswerving dedication to Me in the exile.]

And let your speech be like good wine; it flows for my beloved in sincerity, causing the lips of sleepers to murmur.

and the roof of thy mouth like the best wine, that goes down sweetly for my beloved, causing the sleepers’ lips to murmur.

And let your palate [i.e., your affirmation to the nations] be [(apt)] like goodly wine! [And Israel in the exile responds: I shall tell them that I shall be steadfast in my faith. My words] will stream straight [from the heart] for my Beloved, titillating the lips of the sleepers [i.e., My fathers in the grave will rejoice in my words and give thanks for their lot. And these shall be my words:]

I am my beloved’s and he longs for me.

I am my beloved’s, and his desire is towards me.

I am my Beloved's and unto me is His yearning!

Come, my beloved, let us go out to the field, let us lodge in the villages.

Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages.

Come, my Beloved, let us go out to the field, let us lodge in the villages.

Let us rise early for the vineyards, let us see if the vine has blossomed, if the tender grapes have appeared, if the pomegranates are in bloom; there I will give my love to you.

Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine has flowered, if the grape blossoms have opened, if the pomegranates are in flower: there will I give thee my loves.

Let us rise early to the vineyards [(synagogues and houses of study)]. Let us see if the vine [(an allusion to Scripture scholars)] has flowered, if the grape-blossoms [(Mishnah scholars)] have opened, if the pomegranates [(Talmud scholars)] have bloomed. There I will show You my loved ones [(my sons and daughters)].

The baskets emit fragrance, and at our door are all luscious fruits, both new and old; my beloved, I have kept them for you.

The mandrakes give a fragrance, and at our gates are all manner of choice fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.

The baskets of figs [viz. Jeremiah 24:1-3 (one basket of good figs [the righteous]; the other, of bad figs [the sinners])] have given forth a fragrance [ — all are seeking You]. And at our doors are all manner of delicacies [i.e., reward for many mitzvoth], new [i.e., originated by the Scribes] and old [ordained by Scripture] alike. My Beloved, I have stored them [in my heart] for You.