1
And Samson[H8123] went down[H3381] to Timnath[H8553], and saw[H7200] a woman[H802] in Timnath[H8553] of the daughters[H1323] of the Philistines[H6430].
2
And he came up[H5927], and told[H5046] his father[H1] and his mother[H517], and said[H559], I have seen[H7200] a woman[H802] in Timnath[H8553] of the daughters[H1323] of the Philistines[H6430]: now therefore get[H3947] her for me to wife[H802].
3
Then his father[H1] and his mother[H517]said[H559] unto him, Is there never[H369] a woman[H802] among the daughters[H1323] of thy brethren[H251], or among all my people[H5971], that thou goest[H1980] to take[H3947] a wife[H802] of the uncircumcised[H6189]Philistines?[H6430] And Samson[H8123]said[H559] unto his father[H1], Get[H3947] her for me; for she pleaseth me well[H3474].
4
But his father[H1] and his mother[H517]knew[H3045] not that it was of the LORD[H3068], that he sought[H1245] an occasion[H8385] against the Philistines[H6430]: for at that time[H6256] the Philistines[H6430] had dominion[H4910] over Israel[H3478].
5
Then went[H3381]Samson[H8123]down[H3381], and his father[H1] and his mother[H517], to Timnath[H8553], and came[H935] to the vineyards[H3754] of Timnath[H8553]: and, behold, a young[H3715]lion[H738]roared[H7580]against[H7125] him.
6
And the Spirit[H7307] of the LORD[H3068] came mightily[H6743] upon him, and he rent[H8156] him as he would have rent[H8156] a kid[H1423], and he had nothing[H3972] in his hand[H3027]: but he told[H5046] not his father[H1] or his mother[H517] what he had done[H6213].
7
And he went down[H3381], and talked[H1696] with the woman[H802]; and she pleased[H3474]Samson[H8123]well[H3474].
8
And after a time[H3117] he returned[H7725] to take[H3947] her, and he turned aside[H5493] to see[H7200] the carcase[H4658] of the lion[H738]: and, behold, there was a swarm[H5712] of bees[H1682] and honey[H1706] in the carcase[H1472] of the lion[H738].
9
And he took[H7287] thereof in his hands[H3709], and went on[H3212]eating[H398], and came[H1980] to his father[H1] and mother[H517], and he gave[H5414] them, and they did eat[H398]: but he told[H5046] not them that he had taken[H7287] the honey[H1706] out of the carcase[H1472] of the lion[H738].
10
So his father[H1] went down[H3381] unto the woman[H802]: and Samson[H8123]made[H6213] there a feast[H4960]; for so used the young men[H970] to do[H6213].
11
And it came to pass, when they saw[H7200] him, that they brought[H3947]thirty[H7970]companions[H4828] to be with him.
12
And Samson[H8123]said[H559] unto them, I will now put forth[H2330] a riddle[H2420] unto you: if ye can certainly[H5046]declare[H5046] it me within the seven[H7651]days[H3117] of the feast[H4960], and find it out[H4672], then I will give[H5414] you thirty[H7970]sheets[H5466] and thirty[H7970]change[H2487] of garments[H899]:
13
But if ye cannot[H3201]declare[H5046] it me, then shall ye give[H5414] me thirty[H7970]sheets[H5466] and thirty[H7970]change[H2487] of garments[H899]. And they said[H559] unto him, Put forth[H2330] thy riddle[H2420], that we may hear[H8085] it.
14
And he said[H559] unto them, Out of the eater[H398] came forth[H3318]meat[H3978], and out of the strong[H5794] came forth[H3318]sweetness[H4966]. And they could[H3201] not in three[H7969]days[H3117]expound[H5046] the riddle[H2420].
15
And it came to pass on the seventh[H7637]day[H3117], that they said[H559] unto Samson's wife[H802], Entice[H6601] thy husband[H376], that he may declare[H5046] unto us the riddle[H2420], lest we burn[H8313] thee and thy father's house[H1004] with fire[H784]: have[H3423] ye called[H7121] us to take that we have?[H3423] is it not so?
16
And Samson's wife[H802]wept[H1058] before him, and said[H559], Thou dost but hate[H8130] me, and lovest[H157] me not: thou hast put forth[H2330] a riddle[H2420] unto the children[H1121] of my people[H5971], and hast not told[H5046] it me. And he said[H559] unto her, Behold, I have not told[H5046] it my father[H1] nor my mother[H517], and shall I tell[H5046] it thee?
17
And she wept[H1058] before him the seven[H7651]days[H3117], while their feast[H4960]lasted[H1961]: and it came to pass on the seventh[H7637]day[H3117], that he told[H5046] her, because she lay sore[H6693] upon him: and she told[H5046] the riddle[H2420] to the children[H1121] of her people[H5971].
18
And the men[H582] of the city[H5892]said[H559] unto him on the seventh[H7637]day[H3117] before the sun[H2775] went down[H935], What is sweeter[H4966] than honey?[H1706] and what is stronger[H5794] than a lion?[H738] And he said[H559] unto them, If[H3884] ye had not plowed[H2790] with my heifer[H5697], ye had not found out[H4672] my riddle[H2420].
19
And the Spirit[H7307] of the LORD[H3068]came[H6743] upon him, and he went down[H3381] to Ashkelon[H831], and slew[H5221]thirty[H7970]men[H376] of them, and took[H3947] their spoil[H2488], and gave[H5414]change[H2487] of garments unto them which expounded[H5046] the riddle[H2420]. And his anger[H639] was kindled[H2734], and he went up[H5927] to his father's house[H1004].
20
But Samson's wife[H802] was given to his companion[H4828], whom he had used as his friend[H7462].