Here, as before, Solomon laments the case of him that has a peevish
passionate wife, that is continually chiding, and making herself and
all about her uneasy. 1. It is a grievance that there is no avoiding,
for it is like a continual dropping in a very rainy day. The
contentions of a neighbour may be like a sharp shower, troublesome for
the time, yet, while it lasts, one may take shelter; but the
contentions of a wife are like a constant soaking rain, for which there
is no remedy but patience See ch. xix. 13. 2. It is a grievance that
there is no concealing. A wise man would hide it if he could, for the
sake both of his own and his wife's reputation, but he cannot, any more
than he can conceal the noise of the wind when it blows or the smell of
a strong perfume. Those that are froward and brawling will proclaim
their own shame, even when their friends, in kindness to them, would
cover it.