²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him;
    with ^(A)her smooth talk she compels him.
²² All at once he follows her,
    as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast^[a]
23     till an arrow pierces its liver;
as ^(B)a bird rushes into a snare;
    he does not know that it will cost him his life.

²⁴ And ^(C)now, O sons, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
²⁵ Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
    do not stray into her paths,
²⁶ for many a victim has she laid low,
    and all her slain are ^(D)a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is ^(E)the way to Sheol,
    going down to the chambers of death.