Immoral or evil behavior only yields bad outcomes or results. Sometimes used ironically or facetiously. From a line in the Bible, meaning in context that living a life of sin will only bring one death of the body and soul, while living a virtuous life as prescribed by the church will lead to eternal happiness. After setting up a business empire built around the exploitation of others, the notorious CEO is finally going to prison, his entire fortune stripped from him and his family. It's true, it seems, that the wages of sin is death. I know that all these cakes are making me gain weight, but I just can't help myself—the wages of sin, I suppose!