Proverbs 6:32

Proverbs 6:32 (NASBStr)

The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;

He who would destroy himself does it.

Proverbs 6:32 (ESV)

He who commits adultery lacks sense;

he who does it destroys himself.

Solomon has been describing the outcome of a man who engages in adultery.   Again, adultery is being discussed here as both an actual event and as a metaphor for when we "cheat" on God and sin with another god-like partner.   Now that he has compared the adulterer with a thief (vs. 30-31) he begins to tell us the outcome of an adulterous life.   In the above proverb he tells us how completely damaging to one's own soul and conscious it is to commit this type of sin.  

Solomon tells us that to commit such a sin is to "destroy" the soul.  The Hebrew word for destroy is “shamad.”  It is first used in the O.T. in Genesis 6 where God is describing the corruptions of men and women prior to the flood.  Men were said to be corrupt.  That is what Solomon is telling us is happening to the man who commits this sexual sin.   He is making himself corrupt.   The corruption means he has no value and is placing himself in the path of God's wrath.   The sad part is that he is doing this to himself.   His corruption is a result of his own lust for sexual pleasure outside God’s plan.   Like a mouse who must have the cheese he is caught in the very tool that promised to satisfy his hunger.  This type of man succumbs to lust and shames his own soul.   When we reject the love of God we destroy our soul.  When we pursue something ELSE to satisfy our desires we reject God.  The sin in adultery is that we join ourselves “physically” with this sin and that demonstrates the commitment “spiritually.”  Note how Paul stated it:

1 Corinthians 6:12-20 (ESV Strong's)

Flee Sexual Immorality

12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Sexual sins reveal the heart is connected to the object of our lust and shows our heart is not united with God.  We are not captured by His love.  That is folly, not wisdom.