Albert Barnes Commentary Proverbs 27:16

"He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil." — Proverbs 27:16 (ASV)

The point is the impossibility of concealment or restraint. A person cannot hide the wind, or clasp it in his hands. If he takes an ointment in his right hand, its odor betrays him, or it slips out. Likewise, the “contentious woman” is one whose faults it is impossible either to hide or check. The difficulty of the proverb led to a different reading, adopted by the versions: “The north wind is rough, and yet it is called favorable; it clears away the clouds and brings fine weather.”