32 He who commits adultery lacks sense;
    he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor,
    and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a man furious,
    and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no compensation;
    he will refuse though you multiply gifts.
-Proverbs 6:32-35

Solomon tells us the consequences, that sexual sin (and adultery in particular) destroys a man. Living in the modern era tells us this in graphic detail. The rotten fruit of the sexual revolution is everywhere, shoved in our faces every day. We have to confront the destruction of the married estate, the whelping of children, and the self-denigration of men and women as they begin to see themselves as little more than pleasure-meat for others to enjoy.

But people still do it. They see the consequences of sexual sin every day, but still engage in it. Why would they listen to Solomon? Heck, even theologians sometimes don't listen, like karl barth - who tormented his wife by having his mistress live with them.

I think the cause of this abject failure is that we have been seeing Solomon's wisdom as mere counsel. Solomon tells us it is a matter of life or death; you don't argue with your passions, you flee temptation when you can't force them to obey your will. But the Church began to see this as a matter of mere advice, as though Solomon were telling us that by human reason, merely knowing the consequences, would stop it. What a dour mistake we made. Sexual urges are not a matter of arguments; you cannot defeat your lust with facts and logic. With real wisdom, one acts. Truth be told, it is that way with all matters of wisdom. Simply knowing will do nothing, acting on knowing will accomplish everything.