Judges 14
1 And Samson went down to Timnath, —and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.
One day Samson went down to Timnah, where he saw a young Philistine woman.
2 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.
So he returned and told his father and mother, “I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
3 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.
But his father and mother replied, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, for she is pleasing to my eyes.”
4 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.
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
5 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.
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
6 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.
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7 So he went down, and spake unto the woman, —and she was pleasant in the eyes of Samson.
Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes.
8 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,
When Samson returned later to take her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and in it was a swarm of bees, along with their honey.
9 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.
So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. And when he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10 And his father went down unto the woman, —and Samson made there a banquet, for, so, used the young men, to do.
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.
11 And it came to pass, because they feared him, that they took thirty companions, who remained with him.
And when the Philistines saw him, they selected thirty men to accompany him.
12 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;
“Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
13 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.
But if you cannot solve it, you must give me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.” “Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let us hear it.”
14 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.
So he said to them: “Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet.” For three days they were unable to explain the riddle.
15 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?
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Entice your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?”
16 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?
Then Samson’s wife came to him, weeping, and said, “You hate me! You do not really love me! You have posed to my people a riddle, but have not explained it to me.” “Look,” he said, “I have not even explained it to my father or mother, so why should I explain it to you?”
17 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.
She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and finally on the seventh day, because she had pressed him so much, he told her the answer. And in turn she explained the riddle to her people.
18 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!
Before sunset on the seventh day, the men of the city said to Samson: “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” So he said to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have solved my riddle!”
19 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.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty of their men, took their apparel, and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger, Samson returned to his father’s house,
20 And the wife of Samson was given unto his companion who had served him as his friend.
and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.
