“Melius est sedere in angulo domatis, quam cum muliere litigiosa, et in domo communi.”
“It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. a brawling: Heb. a woman of contentions a wide: Heb. an house of society”
“Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.”
“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.”
“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.”
Top, (domatis) as the roofs in Palestine were flat. (St. Jerome, ad Sun.) — Any inconvenience had better be endured, than to live with the quarrelsome. (Menochius)
Note, 1. Unbridled passions embitter and spoil the comfort of all relations. A peevish angry wife makes her husband's life uneasy, to whom she should be a comfort and a meet help. Those cannot dwell in peace and happiness that cannot dwell in peace and love. Even those that are one flesh, if they be not withal one spirit, have no joy of their union. 2. It is better to have no company than bad company. The wife of thy covenant is thy companion, and yet, if she be peevish and provoking, it is better to dwell in a solitary wilderness, exposed to wind and weather, than in company with her. A man may better enjoy God and himself in a wilderness than among quarrelsome relations and neighbours. See v. 9.