Solomon Asks Who Was Praying Before Creation Began

Another thing that is said in Proverbs 18:22 is "He who finds a wife finds a good thing." And here you say in Ecclesiastes 7:26, "And I find more bitter than death the woman." But if she is a wicked woman, there is no end to her evil. And if she is a good woman, there is no end to her goodness.

Therefore, find a wife and find a good thing. Even before the creation of woman, what is written in Genesis 2:18, "It is not good for man to be alone." After she was created, what is written in Genesis 1:31, "And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good." Therefore, find the good.

Our sages said that anyone who does not have a wife is lacking five things. Lacking blessing, as it is said in Genesis 1:28, "And God blessed them." It says them, not him. Lacking life, as it is said in Ecclesiastes 9:9, "Live joyfully with the wife whom you love."

Lacking joy, as it is said in Proverbs 5:18, "Rejoice with the wife of your youth." Lacking assistance, as it is said in Genesis 2:18, "I will make a helpmate for him." Lacking goodness, as it is said in Proverbs 18:22, "He who finds a wife finds a good thing." And when she is wicked, it is good to find that she brings all goodness out of her husband's home and makes him poor.

But if she is a good woman, what is written about her in Proverbs 31:10, "A capable wife, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls." And it is written in Proverbs 12:4, "A capable wife is a crown for her husband." And regarding this, it is said in Proverbs 19:14, "And he obtains favor from God."

And also, it says in Proverbs 31:10, "An understanding wife is from God." Come and see how difficult the power of marriage is. In the Torah, in the Prophets, and in the Writings, God's name is mentioned in connection with marriage. In the Torah, as it is said in Genesis 24:50, "The matter emanates from God."

In the Prophets, as it is said in Judges 14:4, "But his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord." In the Writings, as it is said in Proverbs 18:22, "And he obtains favor from God." Therefore, His name is connected with marriage.