Read & explore together
Secret adultery remains exposed to God
Sirach 23:16–27 warns that sexual sin does not stay hidden. The passage contrasts human secrecy with the Lord’s complete knowledge, then ends by saying the fear of the Lord and obedience to his commandments are better.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage is part of Sirach, a wisdom book in the Catholic additional books. Here the writer speaks in wisdom-style warnings about a fornicator, an unfaithful husband, and an unfaithful wife. The passage explains hidden sin, God’s sight, punishment, and the value of fearing the Lord.
Sirach 23:16–28Main takeaway
This passage teaches that secret adultery is fully seen by the Lord and that reverent obedience to his commandments is better than sinful desire.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Desire that keeps multiplying sinThe passage begins with a warning about passion that burns like fire. It describes sexual sin as something that keeps going unless it is consumed, and says a fornicator does not stop easily.
Explanation
The passage begins with a warning about passion that burns like fire. It describes sexual sin as something that keeps going unless it is consumed, and says a fornicator does not stop easily. Verse 17 adds that forbidden pleasure seems sweet, which explains why the sin keeps drawing the person on.
02The false confidence of secrecySirach then gives the thoughts of a man who leaves his own marriage bed. He believes darkness, walls, and the absence of human watchers make him safe.
Explanation
Sirach then gives the thoughts of a man who leaves his own marriage bed. He believes darkness, walls, and the absence of human watchers make him safe. He even thinks the Most High will not remember his sins. The passage exposes this as self-deception, not safety.
03The Lord sees what people hideInstead of human eyes being the main danger, the writer says the Lord’s eyes are far brighter than the sun.
Explanation
Instead of human eyes being the main danger, the writer says the Lord’s eyes are far brighter than the sun. He sees all human ways and even secret places. Verse 20 strengthens this by saying all things were known to him before creation and after completion. Nothing is outside his knowledge.
04Judgement and the better wayThe man who thought he was hidden will be punished publicly and unexpectedly. The passage then applies the same warning to a wife who leaves her husband and bears children by another man, describing disgrace and loss.
Explanation
The man who thought he was hidden will be punished publicly and unexpectedly. The passage then applies the same warning to a wife who leaves her husband and bears children by another man, describing disgrace and loss. It ends by saying those left behind should learn that fearing the Lord and heeding his commandments is best.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What reasons does the unfaithful man give himself for thinking he is safe?
List the things he mentions in verse 18, then compare them with what verses 19–20 say about the Lord.
02How does the passage describe the difference between what people see and what the Lord sees?
Notice that the man fears human eyes, but the text says the Lord sees all ways and secret places.
03What final lesson are those left behind meant to learn from these warnings?
Use the exact conclusion in verse 27 about the fear of the Lord and his commandments.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 23:16–27
16Two sorts of people multiply sins, and the third will bring wrath: a hot passion, like a burning fire, will not be quenched until it is consumed; a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease until he has burned out the fire.
17All bread is sweet to a fornicator. He will not cease until he dies.
18A man who goes astray from his own marriage bed says in his heart, “Who sees me? Darkness is around me, and the walls hide me. No one sees me. Of whom am I afraid? The Most High will not remember my sins.”
19The eyes of men are his terror. He doesn’t know that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, seeing all the ways of men, and looking into secret places.
20All things were known to him before they were created, and also after they were completed.
21This man will be punished in the streets of the city. He will be seized where he least expects it.
22So also is a wife who leaves her husband, and produces an heir by another man.
23For first, she was disobedient in the law of the Most High. Second, she trespassed against her own husband. Third, she played the adulteress in fornication, and had children by another man.
24She shall be brought out into the congregation. Her punishment will extend to her children.
25Her children will not take root. Her branches will bear no fruit.
26She will leave her memory for a curse. Her reproach won’t be blotted out.
27And those who are left behind will know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord.
Source passages
Source: Sirach 23 ↗Translation and source notes
Some verse numbers are represented by textual notes in World English Bible Classic. The reading below follows the text printed in the main passage.