42 The construct expression “a doe of loves” is an attributive genitive, describing the doe with the word “loves.” The plural noun may be an abstract plural of intensification (but this noun only occurs in the plural). The same construction follows with a “deer of grace”—a graceful deer. The imagery for intimate love in marriage is now employed to stress the beauty of sexual fulfillment as it was intended. The doe and deer, both implied comparisons, exhibit the grace and love of the wife.
43 The verb שָׁגָה (shagah) means “to swerve; to meander; to reel” as in drunkenness; it signifies a staggering gait expressing the ecstatic joy of a captivated lover. It may also mean “to be always intoxicated with her love” (cf. ).
44 In the interrogative clause the imperfect has a deliberative nuance.
45 Heb “foreigner” (so , ), but this does not mean that the woman is non-Israelite. This term describes a woman who is outside the moral boundaries of the covenant community—she is another man’s wife, but since she acts with moral abandonment she is called “foreign.”
46 Heb “man.”
47 Heb “he”; the referent (the Lord) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
48 814 פָּלַס 2 suggests that the participle מְפַּלֵּס (mépalles) means “to make level [or, straight].” As one’s ways are in front of the eyes of the Lord, they become straight or right. It could be translated “weighs” since it is a denominative from the noun for “balance, scale”; the Lord weighs or examines the actions.
49 Heb “all his”; the referent (the person mentioned in the first half of the verse) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

a lovely deer, a graceful doe.

Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight;

be intoxicated always in her love.

Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman

and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,

and he ponders all his paths.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

A loving doe, a graceful deer—

may her breasts satisfy you always,

may you ever be intoxicated with her love.

Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

and he examines all your paths.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

A loving deer, a graceful doe—

let her breasts always satisfy you;

be lost in her love forever.

Why, my son, would you lose yourself

with a forbidden woman

or embrace a wayward woman?

For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,

and he considers all his paths.

NLTNew Living Translation

She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.

Let her breasts satisfy you always.

May you always be captivated by her love.

Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman,

or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?

For the Lord sees clearly what a man does,

examining every path he takes.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

She is a deer of love and a doe of grace;

may her breasts satisfy you always;

by her love may you be intoxicated continually.

Why should you be intoxicated, my child, by a strange woman,

and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

For before the eyes of Yahweh are human ways,

and all his paths he examines.

KJV 1900King James Version

Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe;

Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times;

And be thou ravished always with her love.

And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman,

And embrace the bosom of a stranger?

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,

And he pondereth all his goings.

Public Domain