¹⁶ You will be saved from the loose woman,^[a]
    from the adulteress^[b] with her smooth words,^(A)

⁶ For at the window of my house
    I looked out through my lattice,
⁷ and I saw among the simple ones,
    I observed among the youths,
    a young man without sense,^(B)
8 passing along the street near her corner,
    taking the road to her house^(C)
9 in the twilight, in the evening,
    at the time of night and darkness.^(D)

¹⁰ Then a woman comes toward him
    decked out like a prostitute, with hidden intent.
¹¹ She is loud and wayward;
    her feet do not stay at home;^(E)
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
    and at every corner she lies in wait.^(F)
13 She seizes him and kisses him,
    and with impudent face she says to him:
¹⁴ “I had to offer sacrifices,
    and today I have paid my vows;^(G)
15 so now I have come out to meet you,
    to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!
¹⁶ I have decked my couch with coverings,
    colored spreads of Egyptian linen;^(H)
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
    aloes, and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
    let us delight ourselves with love.
¹⁹ For my husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took a bag of money with him;
    he will not come home until full moon.”

²¹ With much seductive speech she persuades him;
    with her smooth talk she compels him.^(I)
22 Right away he follows her
    and goes like an ox to the slaughter
or bounds like a stag toward the trap^[c]
23     until an arrow pierces its entrails.
He is like a bird rushing into a snare,
    not knowing that it will cost him his life.^(J)

²⁴ And now, my children, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.^(K)
25 Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways;
    do not stray into her paths.^(L)
26 For many are those she has laid low,
    and numerous are her victims.^(M)
27 Her house is the way to Sheol,
    going down to the chambers of death.^(N)