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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:22 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac); Hebrew as a chain to discipline a fool

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.(A)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b](B)
23     till an arrow pierces(C) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.(D)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
  2. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

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