Proverbs 6:30 [Men] do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Ver. 30. Men do not despise a thief.] We used to say, A liar is worse than a thief; a and Siracides saith the same of a constant liar. (chap. 20) But that an adulterer is worse than a thief, the Holy Ghost here assureth us; and his reasons are unanswerable. For, first, his necessity pleads for him: b he must either steal or starve; and this doth somewhat excuse him, a tanto, as they say, but not a tote; for as a man should rather die than lie, so he should rather perish than purloin or pilfer. But what excuse hath the adulterer? - non ventris inediam patitur, sed cordis indigentiam, He wants not meat, but wit; he preserveth not his body, but destroyeth his soul.
a Potior est fur quam qui assidue mentitur.
b πεινωντι κλεπτειν, εστ αναγκοιως εχειν. - Suidas.