Translation
with my soul still seeking but not [finding],
Go to footnote numberI found one man among a thousand, but a woman among them all I have not found.
Paraphrase
and while my inner being was still seeking truth, there was one thing I could never explain: Whereas one righteous man can be found among a thousand men, I cannot find one righteous woman among them all.
Footnotes
1
The word “finding” must also be assumed; it is not in the text.
Why such a harsh statement about all women?
Well, I’m glad you asked because I have two lessons in the study series about the life of Solomon that address this very issue. Here I will only give you a hint. I believe Solomon had an affair in which he got burned badly and that is what created his distrust of all women. The only one he found that fit his expectations of a wife was the Shulammite, and she died young. Here are the links to those two lessons about Solomon’s Affair and his distrust of women – How Solomon Came to Distrust Women Part 1 and How Solomon Came to Distrust Women Part 2. If you only have time to read one of those lessons, read part 2.