Of Various Sins against the Second Table.
WARNING DEPICTING THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNCHASTITY. — V. 30. Men do not despise a thief, literally, “heap contempt and shame upon him,” although they do insist upon his punishment, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry, that is, when only the greatest extremity of hunger causes him to steal in order to get something to eat; v. 31. but if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house, be held responsible for his theft with all that he possesses, even beyond the ordinary four- and fivefold restoration, Exodus 21, 37; 22, 1; Luke 19, 8.
V. 32. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding, he is deficient both in moral principle and prudence, he risks more than any reasonable man would chance; he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul, it is only the self-destroyer, closely related to the suicide, who would be so foolish, since men judge the adulterer much more harshly.