Judges

14 And Samson went down to Timnath,—and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

7 So he went down, and spake unto the woman,—and she was pleasant in the eyes of Samson.

8 And he returned after a time to take her, and went aside to see the carcase of the lion,—and lo! a swarm of bees in the body of the lion and 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 carcase of the lion he had taken the honey.

10 And his father went down unto the woman,—and Samson made there a banquet, for so used the young men to do.

11 And it came to pass, because they feared him, that they took thirty companions, who remained with 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;

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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!

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.

20 And the wife of Samson was given unto his companion who had served him as his friend.