What is particularly bothersome in a marriage relationship?

Proverbs 19:13A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

In marriage quarrelsomeness can go both ways, and it often does. When we address the quarrelsomeness of our spouses, we should ask, “How might I be provoking this?” People around us may become quarrelsome when we act disagreeable, fail to actively listen, or devalue their opinions. If we are unwilling to share responsibility for tension in a marriage relationship, this may be a sign that some responsibility is in fact ours to accept.

Proverbs 27:15-16A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands.

Since Proverbs was written as a collection of sage advice for a son, it makes sense that the spouse in question is a wife. But most of the wisdom in these observations goes both ways. A nagging, complaining spouse is annoying. We should all assess ourselves! If you’re a dripping faucet to your mate, turn off the dripping before your mate turns you off.