communication in marriage

¹⁹You know this, my most beloved brothers. So let every man be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to anger.

¹Similarly also, wives should be subject to their husbands, so that, even if some do not believe the Word, they may benefit without the Word, through the behavior of these wives, ²as they consider with fear your chaste behavior. ³For you, there should be no unnecessary adornment of the hair, or surrounding with gold, or the wearing of ornate clothing. ⁴Instead, you should be a hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptibility of a quiet and meek spirit, rich in the sight of God. ⁵For in this way, in past times also, holy women adorned themselves, hoping in God, being subject to their own husbands. ⁶For so Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You are her daughters, well-behaved and unafraid of any disturbance.

²²Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her, ²⁶so that he might sanctify her, washing her clean by water and the Word of life, ²⁷so that he might offer her to himself as a glorious Church, not having any spot or wrinkle or any such thing, so that she would be holy and immaculate.

¹¹Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver. ¹²Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl. ¹³Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest. ¹⁴A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow. ¹⁵By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and do not be bitter toward them.

⁵But if anyone among you is in need of wisdom, let him petition God, who gives abundantly to all without reproach, and it shall be given to him.

⁹Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

¹⁵Instead, acting according to truth in charity, we should increase in everything, in him who is the head, Christ himself.

²⁵Because of this, setting aside lying, speak the truth, each one with his neighbor. For we are all part of one another.

²⁹Let no evil words proceed from your mouth, but only what is good, toward the edification of faith, so as to bestow grace upon those who listen.

⁷Similarly, you husbands should live with them in accord with knowledge, bestowing honor on the female as the weaker vessel and as co-heirs of the life of grace, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

⁶But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. ⁷Because of this, a man shall leave behind his father and mother, and he shall cling to his wife. ⁸And these two shall be one in flesh. And so, they are now, not two, but one flesh.

¹⁸The Lord God also said: “It is not good for the man to be alone. Let us make a helper for him similar to himself.” ¹⁹Therefore, the Lord God, having formed from the soil all the animals of the earth and all the flying creatures of the air, brought them to Adam, in order to see what he would call them. For whatever Adam would call any living creature, that would be its name. ²⁰And Adam called each of the living things by their names: all the flying creatures of the air, and all the wild beasts of the land. Yet truly, for Adam, there was not found a helper similar to himself. ²¹And so the Lord God sent a deep sleep upon Adam. And when he was fast asleep, he took one of his ribs, and he completed it with flesh for it. ²²And the Lord God built up the rib, which he took from Adam, into a woman. And he led her to Adam. ²³And Adam said: “Now this is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh. This one shall be called woman, because she was taken from man.”

¹A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.

¹⁵And the eloquence of my mouth will be so as to please, along with the meditation of my heart, in your sight, forever, O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.

²²Wives should be submissive to their husbands, as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the Church. He is the Savior of his body. ²⁴Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so also should wives be subject to their husbands in all things. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and handed himself over for her,