Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
Whosoever hideth her (striveth to hide or keep her back) hideth the wind (which only howls the more that it is pent up), and the ointment of his right hand, (which) bewrayeth (itself). He does the same as if he tried to hide the odorous oil wherewith he has anointed his right hand, which betrays itself (literally, cries out) by the smell. Maurer translates, 'And his right hand crieth out for ointment.'-namely, to heal the scratches which his right hand gets from her in trying to hide or restrain her. I prefer the English version. The crying out of the ointment evidently answers to the clamour of "the contentious woman." It is as impossible to stifle one as the other. She is as closely joined to her husband as the ointment to the right hand on which it is. She bewrays herself by bawling, as the ointment does by its odour. Beware of choosing a wife for her mere beauty or wealth; because if she is contentious, the evil is not easily remedied.