Judges 14
1 Then Samson went down to Thamnatlia, and seeing there a woman of the daughters of the Philistines,
And Samson went down to Timnath, —and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 He came up, and told his father and his mother, saying: I saw a woman in Thamnatha of the daughters of the Philistines: I beseech you, take her for me to wife.
So he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said—A woman, have I seen in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines, —now, therefore, take her for me, to wife.
3 And his father and mother said to him: Is there no woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou wilt take a wife of the Philistines, who are uncircumcised? And Samson said to his father: Take this woman for me, for she hath pleased my eyes.
And his father and his mother said to him—Is there not, among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, a woman, that thou art going away to take a woman from among the uncircumcised Philistines? But Samson said unto his father—Take, her, for me, for, she, is pleasant in mine eyes.
4 Now his parents knew not that the thing was done by the Lord, and that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
Now, his father and his mother, knew not, that, from Yahweh, it was, that, an occasion, he was seeking of the Philistines, —at that time, the Philistines having dominion over Israel.
5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Thamnatha. And when they were come to the vineyards of the town, behold a young lion met him raging and roaring.
So Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, —and they came as far as the vineyards of Timnath, when lo! a young lion, roaring to meet him.
6 And the spirit of the Lord came upon Samson, and he tore the lion as he would have torn a kid in pieces, having nothing at all in his hand: and he would not tell this to his father and mother.
And the Spirit of Yahweh, came suddenly over him, and he tore it in pieces as if he had torn in pieces a kid, there being, nothing at all, in his hand, —but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down and spoke to the woman that had pleased his eyes.
So he went down, and spake unto the woman, —and she was pleasant in the eyes of Samson.
8 And after some days returning to take her, he went aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold there was a swarm of bees in the mouth of the lion and a honeycomb.
And he returned, after a time, to take her, and went aside to see the carcass of the lion, —and lo! a swarm of bees, in the body of the lion, and, honey,
9 And when be had taken it in his hands, he went on eating: and coming to his father and mother, he gave them of it, and they ate: but he would not tell them, that he had taken the honey from the body of the lion.
which he took into his hands, and went on—eating as he went, and came unto his father and unto his mother, and gave unto them, and they did eat, —but he told them not that, out of the carcass of the lion, he had taken the honey.
10 So his father went down to the woman, and made a feast for his son Samson: for so the young men used to do.
And his father went down unto the woman, —and Samson made there a banquet, for, so, used the young men, to do.
11 And when the citizens of that place saw him, they brought him thirty companions to be with him.
And it came to pass, because they feared him, that they took thirty companions, who remained with him.
12 And Samson said to them: I will propose to you a riddle, which if you declare unto me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty shirts, and as many coats:
And Samson said unto them, I pray you let me put you forth a riddle, —if ye, tell, it me, within the seven days of the banquet, and find it out, then will I give you thirty linen wraps and thirty changes of raiment;
13 But if you shall not be able to declare it, you shall give me thirty shirts and the same number of coats. They answered him: Put forth the riddle that we may hear it.
but, if ye cannot tell me, then shall, ye, give me thirty linen wraps, and thirty changes of raiment. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
14 And he said to them: Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.
And he said to them—Out of the eater, came forth food, And, out of the strong, came forth sweetness. But they could not tell the riddle, in three days.
15 And when the seventh day came, they said to the wife of Samson: Soothe thy husband, and persuade him to tell thee what the riddle meaneth. But if thou wilt not do it, we will burn thee, and thy father’s house. Have you called us to the wedding on purpose to strip us?
And it came to pass, on the fourth day, that they said to Samson’s wife, Entice thy husband, that he may tell us the riddle, lest we burn thee and the house of thy father, with fire. Was it not, to impoverish us, that ye invited us—was it not?
16 So she wept before Samson and complained, saying: Thou hatest me, and dost not love me: therefore thou wilt not expound to me the riddle which thou hast proposed to the sons of my people. But he answered: I would not tell it to my father and mother, and how can I tell it to thee?
And the wife of Samson wept upon him, and said—Thou dost, altogether hate me, and dost not love me, a riddle, hast thou put forth to the sons of my people, and, unto me, thou hast not told it! And he said to her, Lo! to my own father and mother, have I not told it, and, to thee, shall I tell it?
17 So she wept before him the seven days of the feast: and at length on the seventh day as she was troublesome to him, he expounded it. And she immediately told her countrymen.
So she wept upon him the seven days, —while their banquet lasted, —and it came to pass, on the seventh day, that he told her, because she urged him, and she told the riddle unto the sons of her people.
18 And they on the seventh day before the sun went down said to him: What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them: If you had not ploughed with my heifer, you had not found out my riddle.
And the men of the city said to him, on the seventh day—ere yet the sun went in, What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them: If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, Ye had not found out my riddle!
19 And the spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ascalon, and slew there thirty men, whose garments he took away and gave to them that had declared the riddle. And being exceeding angry he went up to his father’s house:
And the Spirit of Yahweh, came suddenly over him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote of them thirty men, and took their garments, and gave the changes [of raiment] to them who had told the riddle, —and his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father’s house.
20 But his wife took one of his friends and bridal companions for her husband.
And the wife of Samson was given unto his companion who had served him as his friend.
