Sirach 23:16-27

On sex

16 Two types of people multiply sins, and a third will bring wrath. A hot temperament that burns like fire will never be quenched until it is spent. People who are promiscuous with their kin will never stop until the fire burns out.
17 To promiscuous people all bread is sweet; they don't become weary until they die.
18 There are people who violate their marriage bed, saying to themselves, Who will see me? Darkness envelops me; the walls hide me; no one will see me. Why do I have a care? The Most High will never recall my sins.
19 They fear human eyes, but they are unaware that the eye of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun; they observe all the ways of human beings and look into hidden places
20 Before all things were created, God knew them; so as well after they were finished.
21 These people will be punished in the streets of the city, and when they least expect it, they will be seized
22 So it is with a woman when she is unfaithful to her husband and she presents him with an heir by another man.
23 First, she's disobeyed the Law of the Most High; second, she's wronged her husband; third, she's committed adultery by her illicit sexual behavior and produced children by another man.
24 She will be led into the assembly, and her punishment will be upon her children.
25 Her children won't take root, and her branches won't bear fruit.
26 She will leave behind a cursed memory, and her reproach won't be wiped clean.
27 And those who remain will know that nothing is better than fearing the Lord, and nothing is sweeter than keeping the Lord's commandments.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. LXXb adds 23:28 It is a great glory to follow God; to be received by him is to have a long life.
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