22 All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

23 till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to what I say.

25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.

26 Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is a highway to the grave,

leading down to the chambers of death.

22 All at once he follows her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

or as a stag is caught fast

23 till an arrow pierces its liver;

as a bird rushes into a snare;

he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And 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 a mighty throng.

27 Her house is the way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.

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.

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children,

And attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways,

Go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded:

Yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27 Her house is the way to hell,

Going down to the chambers of death.

22 He followed her at once,

like an ox going to the slaughter.

He was like a stag caught in a trap,

23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.

He was like a bird flying into a snare,

little knowing it would cost him his life.

24 So listen to me, my sons,

and pay attention to my words.

25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.

Don’t wander down her wayward path.

26 For she has been the ruin of many;

many men have been her victims.

27 Her house is the road to the grave.

Her bedroom is the den of death.

22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,

Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,

23 Till an arrow struck his liver.

As a bird hastens to the snare,

He did not know it would cost his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;

Pay attention to the words of my mouth:

25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,

Do not stray into her paths;

26 For she has cast down many wounded,

And all who were slain by her were strong men.

27 Her house is the way to hell,

Descending to the chambers of death.

22 All at once he followed her,

like an ox led to the butcher,

like a deer caught in a trap

23 and shot through the liver with an arrow.

Like a bird caught in a trap,

he didn’t know what he did would kill him.

24 Now, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to what I say.

25 Don’t let yourself be tricked by such a woman;

don’t go where she leads you.

26 She has ruined many good men,

and many have died because of her.

27 Her house is on the road to death,

the road that leads down to the grave.

22 He goeth after her straightway,

As an ox goeth to the slaughter,

Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;

23 Till an arrow strike through his liver;

As a bird hasteth to the snare,

And knoweth not that it is for his life.

24 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me,

And attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways;

Go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded:

Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

27 Her house is the way to Sheol,

Going down to the chambers of death.

22 He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as stocks serve for the correction of the fool; 23 till an arrow strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for its life.

24 And now, ye sons, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths: 26 for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.

22 He immediately follows her 

like a steer on its way to be slaughtered, 

like a ram hobbling into captivity 

23 until an arrow pierces his heart, 

like a bird darting into a trap. 

He does not realize that it will cost him his life. 

24 Now, sons, 

listen to me. 

Pay attention to the words from my mouth. 

25 Do not let your heart be turned to her ways. 

Do not wander onto her paths, 

26 because she has brought down many victims, 

and she has killed all too many. 

27 Her home is the way to hell 

and leads to the darkest vaults of death. 

22 He follows her impulsively

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer bounding toward a trap

23 until an arrow pierces its liver,

like a bird darting into a snare —

he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

24 Now, my sons, listen to me,

and pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25 Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;

don’t stray onto her paths.

26 For she has brought many down to death;

her victims are countless.

27 Her house is the road to Sheol,

descending to the chambers of death.

22 Right away he follows her,

and goes like an ox to the slaughter,

or bounds like a stag toward the trap

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.

24 And now, my children, listen to me,

and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25 Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths.

26 for many are those she has laid low,

and numerous are her victims.

27 Her house is the way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.

22 He goes after her suddenly;

like an ox to the slaughter he goes,

and like a stag to the instruction of a fool,

23 until an arrow pierces his entrails,

like a bird rushing into a snare,

but he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And now, my children, listen to me,

and be attentive to the sayings of my mouth.

25 May your heart not turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her path.

26 For many slain she has laid low,

and countless are all of her killings.

27 The ways of Sheol are her house,

descending to chambers of death.

22 All at once he followed her.

He was like an ox going to be killed.

He was like a deer stepping into a trap

23 until an arrow struck its liver.

He was like a bird rushing into a trap.

Little did he know it would cost him his life!

24 My sons, listen to me.

Pay attention to what I say.

25 Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways.

Don’t step onto her paths.

26 She has brought down a lot of men.

She has killed a huge crowd.

27 Her house is a road to the grave.

It leads down to the place of the dead.