Chapter 14

And Samson went down⁴ to Timnath, and saw⁴ a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

And he came up,⁴ and told⁵⁵ his father and his mother, and said,⁴ I have seen¹ a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get³ her for me to wife.

Then his father and his mother said⁴ unto him, [Is there] never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest⁶ to take² a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said⁴ unto his father, Get³ her for me; for she pleaseth^{1 5869} me well.

But his father and his mother knew¹ not that it [was] of the LORD, that he sought¹⁸ an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion⁶ over Israel.

Then went Samson down,⁴ and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came⁴ to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared⁶ against² him.

And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily⁴ upon him, and he rent¹⁷ him as he would have rent¹⁵ a kid, and [he had] nothing ³⁹⁷² in his hand: but he told⁵² not his father or his mother what he had done.¹

And he went down,⁴ and talked¹⁷ with the woman; and she pleased^{4 5869} Samson well.

And after a time he returned⁴ to take² her, and he turned aside⁴ to see² the carcase of the lion: and, behold, [there was] a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.

And he took⁴ thereof in his hands, and went⁴ on² eating,² and came⁴ to his father and mother, and he gave⁴ them, and they did eat:⁴ but he told⁵² not them that he had taken¹ the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

So his father went down⁴ unto the woman: and Samson made⁴ there a feast; for so used the young men to do.⁴

And it came to pass, when they saw² him, that they brought⁴ thirty companions to be with him.

And Samson said⁴ unto them, I will now put forth⁴ a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly⁵³ declare⁵⁵ it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out,¹ then I will give¹ you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

But if ye cannot ^{3201 4} declare⁵³ [it] me, then shall ye give¹ me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said⁴ unto him, Put forth³ thy riddle, that we may hear⁴ it.

And he said⁴ unto them, Out of the eater⁶ came forth¹ meat, and out of the strong came forth¹ sweetness. And they could¹ not in three days expound⁵³ the riddle.

And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said⁴ unto Samson's wife, Entice¹⁶ thy husband, that he may declare⁵⁵ unto us the riddle, lest we burn⁴ thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called¹ us to take that we have?² [is it] not [so]?

And Samson's wife wept⁴ before him, and said,⁴ Thou dost but hate¹ me, and lovest¹ me not: thou hast put forth¹ a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told⁵² [it] me. And he said⁴ unto her, Behold, I have not told⁵² [it] my father nor my mother, and shall I tell⁵⁵ [it] thee?

And she wept⁴ before him the seven days, while their feast lasted:¹ and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told⁵⁵ her, because she lay sore⁵² upon him: and she told⁵⁵ the riddle to the children of her people.

And the men of the city said⁴ unto him on the seventh day before the sun went down,⁴ What [is] sweeter than honey? and what [is] stronger than a lion? And he said⁴ unto them, If ye had not plowed¹ with my heifer, ye had not found out¹ my riddle.

And the Spirit of the LORD came⁴ upon him, and he went down⁴ to Ashkelon, and slew⁵⁵ thirty men of them, and took⁴ their spoil, and gave⁴ change of garments unto them which expounded⁵⁶ the riddle. And his anger was kindled,⁴ and he went up⁴ to his father's house.

But Samson's wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.¹⁴