1And Samson8123 went down3381 to Timnath8553, and saw7200 a woman802 in Timnath8553 of the daughters1323 of the Philistines6430.
2And he came up5927, and told5046 his father1 and his mother517, and said559, I have seen7200 a woman802 in Timnath8553 of the daughters1323 of the Philistines6430: now therefore get3947 her for me to wife802.
3Then his father1 and his mother517 said559 unto him, Is there never369 a woman802 among the daughters1323 of thy brethren251, or among all my people5971, that thou goest1980 to take3947 a wife802 of the uncircumcised6189 Philistines6430? And Samson8123 said559 unto his father1, Get3947 her for me; for she pleaseth me well3474 5869.
4But his father1 and his mother517 knew3045 not that it was of the LORD3068, that he sought1245 an occasion8385 against the Philistines6430: for at that time6256 the Philistines6430 had dominion4910 over Israel3478.
5Then went3381 Samson8123 down3381, and his father1 and his mother517, to Timnath8553, and came935 to the vineyards3754 of Timnath8553: and, behold, a young3715 lion738 roared7580 against7125 him.
6And the Spirit7307 of the LORD3068 came mightily6743 upon him, and he rent8156 him as he would have rent8156 a kid1423, and he had nothing3972 in his hand3027: but he told5046 not his father1 or his mother517 what he had done6213.
7And he went down3381, and talked1696 with the woman802; and she pleased3474 Samson8123 well3474 5869.
8And after a time3117 he returned7725 to take3947 her, and he turned aside5493 to see7200 the carcase4658 of the lion738: and, behold, there was a swarm5712 of bees1682 and honey1706 in the carcase1472 of the lion738.
9And he took7287 thereof in his hands3709, and went on3212 eating398, and came1980 to his father1 and mother517, and he gave5414 them, and they did eat398: but he told5046 not them that he had taken7287 the honey1706 out of the carcase1472 of the lion738.
10So his father1 went down3381 unto the woman802: and Samson8123 made6213 there a feast4960; for so used the young men970 to do6213.
11And it came to pass, when they saw7200 him, that they brought3947 thirty7970 companions4828 to be with him.
12And Samson8123 said559 unto them, I will now put forth2330 a riddle2420 unto you: if ye can certainly5046 declare5046 it me within the seven7651 days3117 of the feast4960, and find it out4672, then I will give5414 you thirty7970 sheets5466 and thirty7970 change2487 of garments899:
13But if ye cannot3201 declare5046 it me, then shall ye give5414 me thirty7970 sheets5466 and thirty7970 change2487 of garments899. And they said559 unto him, Put forth2330 thy riddle2420, that we may hear8085 it.
14And he said559 unto them, Out of the eater398 came forth3318 meat3978, and out of the strong5794 came forth3318 sweetness4966. And they could3201 not in three7969 days3117 expound5046 the riddle2420.
15And it came to pass on the seventh7637 day3117, that they said559 unto Samson's8123 wife802, Entice6601 thy husband376, that he may declare5046 unto us the riddle2420, lest we burn8313 thee and thy father's1 house1004 with fire784: have ye called7121 us to take that we have3423? is it not so?
16And Samson's8123 wife802 wept1058 before him, and said559, Thou dost but hate8130 me, and lovest157 me not: thou hast put forth2330 a riddle2420 unto the children1121 of my people5971, and hast not told5046 it me. And he said559 unto her, Behold, I have not told5046 it my father1 nor my mother517, and shall I tell5046 it thee?
17And she wept1058 before him the seven7651 days3117, while their feast4960 lasted1961: and it came to pass on the seventh7637 day3117, that he told5046 her, because she lay sore6693 upon him: and she told5046 the riddle2420 to the children1121 of her people5971.
18And the men582 of the city5892 said559 unto him on the seventh7637 day3117 before the sun2775 went down935, What is sweeter4966 than honey1706? and what is stronger5794 than a lion738? And he said559 unto them, If3884 ye had not plowed2790 with my heifer5697, ye had not found out4672 my riddle2420.
19And the Spirit7307 of the LORD3068 came6743 upon him, and he went down3381 to Ashkelon831, and slew5221 thirty7970 men376 of them, and took3947 their spoil2488, and gave5414 change2487 of garments unto them which expounded5046 the riddle2420. And his anger639 was kindled2734, and he went up5927 to his father's1 house1004.
20But Samson's8123 wife802 was given to his companion4828, whom he had used as his friend7462.