Judges 13

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

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

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

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 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

The LORD’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 beware, I pray thee, and drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

Now therefore please beware and drink no wine nor strong drink, and do not eat any unclean thing;

5 for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head: for the child shall be a Nazirite unto 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 unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the angel of God, very terrible; and I asked him not whence he was, neither told he 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 did not ask him where he was from, neither did he tell me his name;

7 but he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb to 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. Do not 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 entreated the LORD, and said, Oh Lord, I pray thee, let the man of God whom thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do onto the child that shall be born.

Then Manoah entreated the LORD, 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 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not 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, was not with her.

10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and told her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

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 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And 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 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the manner of the child, and [what shall be] his work?

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

13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

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

14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing; all that I commanded her let her 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 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, that we may make ready a kid for thee.

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

16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt make ready a burnt offering, thou must offer it onto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was the angel of the LORD.

The LORD’s angel said to Manoah, “Though you detain me, I will not eat your bread. If you will prepare a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD.” For Manoah did not know that he was the LORD’s angel.

17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when thy words come to pass we may do thee honour?

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

18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore askest thou after my name, seeing it is wonderful?

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

19 So Manoah took the kid with the meal offering, and offered it upon the rock unto the LORD: and [the angel] did wondrously, and Manoah and his wife looked on.

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

20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD 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, the LORD’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 the LORD did no more appear to Manoah or to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD.

But the LORD’s angel did not appear to Manoah or to his wife any more. Then Manoah knew that he was the LORD’s angel.

22 And Manoah said unto 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 unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meal offering at our hand, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would at this time have told us such things as these.

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

24 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and the LORD blessed him.

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

25 And the spirit of the LORD began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

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