Judges 13

1 The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH; and YHWH delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

The children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight; and Yahweh delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and did not bear.

There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and childless.

3 The angel of YHWH appeared to the woman, and said to her, "See now, you are barren, and do not bear; but you shall conceive, and bear a son.

Yahweh’s angel appeared to the woman, and said to her, “See now, you are barren and childless; but you shall conceive and bear a son.

4 Now therefore please be careful and drink no wine nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing.

Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and don’t eat any unclean thing;

5 For look, you shall conceive, and bear a son; and no razor will come on his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. And he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

for, behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son. No razor shall come on his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb. He shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, "A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome; and I didn't ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name,

Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, “A man of God came to me, and his face was like the face of the angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name;

7 but he said to me, 'Look, you shall conceive, and bear a son. And now drink no wine nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing; for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day of his death.'"

but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink. Don’t eat any unclean thing, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

8 Then Manoah pleaded with YHWH, and said, "Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you did send come again to us, and teach us what we shall do to the child who shall be born."

Then Manoah entreated Yahweh, and said, “Oh, Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us, and teach us what we should do to the child who shall be born.”

9 God listened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah, her husband, wasn't with her.

God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field; but Manoah, her husband, wasn’t with her.

10 The woman ran quickly, and told her husband, and said to him, "Look, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me."

The woman hurried and ran, and told her husband, saying to him, “Behold, the man who came to me that day has appeared to me.”

11 Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to the woman?" He said, "I am."

Manoah arose and followed his wife, and came to the man, and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to my wife?” He said, “I am.”

12 Manoah said, "Now let your word happen. How shall the child be raised and what is he to do?"

Manoah said, “Now let your words happen. What shall the child’s way of life and mission be?”

13 The angel of YHWH said to Manoah, "Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.

Yahweh’s angel said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her beware.

14 She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. All that I have commanded her she is to observe."

She may not eat of anything that comes of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. Let her observe all that I commanded her.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of YHWH, "Please, stay a bit longer that we may prepare a young goat for you."

Manoah said to Yahweh’s angel, “Please stay with us, that we may make a young goat ready for you.”

16 The angel of YHWH said to Manoah, "Though you detain me, I won't eat of your bread. And if you prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to YHWH." For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of YHWH.

Yahweh’s angel said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I won’t eat your bread. If you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to Yahweh.” For Manoah didn’t know that he was Yahweh’s angel.

17 Manoah said to the angel of YHWH, "What is your name, that when your words come true we may honor you?"

Manoah said to Yahweh’s angel, “What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honor you?”

18 And the angel of YHWH said to him, "Why do you ask for my name? It is incomprehensible."

Yahweh’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible?”

19 So Manoah took the young goat and a grain offering, and offered it on the rock to YHWH, YHWH who works wonders. And Manoah and his wife looked on.

So Manoah took the young goat with the meal offering, and offered it on the rock to Yahweh. Then the angel did an amazing thing as Manoah and his wife watched.

20 For it happened, when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, that the angel of YHWH ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

For when the flame went up toward the sky from off the altar, Yahweh’s angel ascended in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife watched; and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 But the angel of YHWH did not appear again to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of YHWH.

But Yahweh’s angel didn’t appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was Yahweh’s angel.

22 Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, because we have seen God."

Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”

23 But his wife said to him, "If YHWH meant to kill us, he wouldn't have received a burnt offering and a grain offering from us, neither would he have shown us all these things, nor would he have spoken to us now like this."

But his wife said to him, “If Yahweh were pleased to kill us, he wouldn’t have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, and he wouldn’t have shown us all these things, nor would he have told us such things as these at this time.”

24 The woman bore a son, and named him Samson. And the child grew, and YHWH blessed him.

The woman bore a son and named him Samson. The child grew, and Yahweh blessed him.

25 And the Spirit of YHWH began to direct him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Yahweh’s Spirit began to move him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.