1 And Samson{H8123} went down{H3381}{(H8799)} to Timnath{H8553}, and saw{H7200}{(H8799)} a woman{H802} in Timnath{H8553} of the daughters{H1323} of the Philistines{H6430}.

2 And he came up{H5927}{(H8799)}, and told{H5046}{(H8686)} his father{H1} and his mother{H517}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, I have seen{H7200}{(H8804)} a woman{H802} in Timnath{H8553} of the daughters{H1323} of the Philistines{H6430}: now therefore get{H3947}{(H8798)} her for me to wife{H802}.

3 Then his father{H1} and his mother{H517} said{H559}{(H8799)} 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}{(H8802)} to take{H3947}{(H8800)} a wife{H802} of the uncircumcised{H6189} Philistines{H6430}? And Samson{H8123} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto his father{H1}, Get{H3947}{(H8798)} her for me; for she pleaseth me well{H3474}{(H8804)}{H5869}.

4 But his father{H1} and his mother{H517} knew{H3045}{(H8804)} not that it was of the LORD{H3068}, that he sought{H1245}{(H8764)} an occasion{H8385} against the Philistines{H6430}: for at that time{H6256} the Philistines{H6430} had dominion{H4910}{(H8802)} over Israel{H3478}.

5 Then went{H3381} Samson{H8123} down{H3381}{(H8799)}, and his father{H1} and his mother{H517}, to Timnath{H8553}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the vineyards{H3754} of Timnath{H8553}: and, behold, a young{H3715} lion{H738} roared{H7580}{(H8802)} against{H7125}{(H8800)} him.

6 And the Spirit{H7307} of the LORD{H3068} came mightily{H6743}{(H8799)} upon him, and he rent{H8156}{(H8762)} him as he would have rent{H8156}{(H8763)} a kid{H1423}, and he had nothing{H3972} in his hand{H3027}: but he told{H5046}{(H8689)} not his father{H1} or his mother{H517} what he had done{H6213}{(H8804)}.

7 And he went down{H3381}{(H8799)}, and talked{H1696}{(H8762)} with the woman{H802}; and she pleased{H3474} Samson{H8123} well{H3474}{(H8799)}{H5869}.

8 And after a time{H3117} he returned{H7725}{(H8799)} to take{H3947}{(H8800)} her, and he turned aside{H5493}{(H8799)} to see{H7200}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8799)} thereof in his hands{H3709}, and went on{H3212}{(H8799)} eating{H398}{(H8800)}, and came{H1980}{(H8800)} to his father{H1} and mother{H517}, and he gave{H5414}{(H8799)} them, and they did eat{H398}{(H8799)}: but he told{H5046}{(H8689)} not them that he had taken{H7287}{(H8804)} the honey{H1706} out of the carcase{H1472} of the lion{H738}.

10 So his father{H1} went down{H3381}{(H8799)} unto the woman{H802}: and Samson{H8123} made{H6213}{(H8799)} there a feast{H4960}; for so used the young men{H970} to do{H6213}{(H8799)}.

11 And it came to pass, when they saw{H7200}{(H8800)} him, that they brought{H3947}{(H8799)} thirty{H7970} companions{H4828} to be with him.

12 And Samson{H8123} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, I will now put forth{H2330}{(H8799)} a riddle{H2420} unto you: if ye can certainly{H5046}{(H8687)} declare{H5046}{(H8686)} it me within the seven{H7651} days{H3117} of the feast{H4960}, and find it out{H4672}{(H8804)}, then I will give{H5414}{(H8804)} you thirty{H7970} sheets{H5466} and thirty{H7970} change{H2487} of garments{H899}:

13 But if ye cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} declare{H5046}{(H8687)} it me, then shall ye give{H5414}{(H8804)} me thirty{H7970} sheets{H5466} and thirty{H7970} change{H2487} of garments{H899}. And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Put forth{H2330}{(H8798)} thy riddle{H2420}, that we may hear{H8085}{(H8799)} it.

14 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Out of the eater{H398}{(H8802)} came forth{H3318}{(H8804)} meat{H3978}, and out of the strong{H5794} came forth{H3318}{(H8804)} sweetness{H4966}. And they could{H3201}{(H8804)} not in three{H7969} days{H3117} expound{H5046}{(H8687)} the riddle{H2420}.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117}, that they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Samson's{H8123} wife{H802}, Entice{H6601}{(H8761)} thy husband{H376}, that he may declare{H5046}{(H8686)} unto us the riddle{H2420}, lest we burn{H8313}{(H8799)} thee and thy father's{H1} house{H1004} with fire{H784}: have ye called{H7121}{(H8804)} us to take that we have{H3423}{(H8800)}? is it not so?

16 And Samson's{H8123} wife{H802} wept{H1058}{(H8799)} before him, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Thou dost but hate{H8130}{(H8804)} me, and lovest{H157}{(H8804)} me not: thou hast put forth{H2330}{(H8804)} a riddle{H2420} unto the children{H1121} of my people{H5971}, and hast not told{H5046}{(H8689)} it me. And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her, Behold, I have not told{H5046}{(H8689)} it my father{H1} nor my mother{H517}, and shall I tell{H5046}{(H8686)} it thee?

17 And she wept{H1058}{(H8799)} before him the seven{H7651} days{H3117}, while their feast{H4960} lasted{H1961}{(H8804)}: and it came to pass on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117}, that he told{H5046}{(H8686)} her, because she lay sore{H6693}{(H8689)} upon him: and she told{H5046}{(H8686)} the riddle{H2420} to the children{H1121} of her people{H5971}.

18 And the men{H582} of the city{H5892} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him on the seventh{H7637} day{H3117} before the sun{H2775} went down{H935}{(H8799)}, What is sweeter{H4966} than honey{H1706}? and what is stronger{H5794} than a lion{H738}? And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, If{H3884} ye had not plowed{H2790}{(H8804)} with my heifer{H5697}, ye had not found out{H4672}{(H8804)} my riddle{H2420}.

19 And the Spirit{H7307} of the LORD{H3068} came{H6743}{(H8799)} upon him, and he went down{H3381}{(H8799)} to Ashkelon{H831}, and slew{H5221}{(H8686)} thirty{H7970} men{H376} of them, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} their spoil{H2488}, and gave{H5414}{(H8799)} change{H2487} of garments unto them which expounded{H5046}{(H8688)} the riddle{H2420}. And his anger{H639} was kindled{H2734}{(H8799)}, and he went up{H5927}{(H8799)} to his father's{H1} house{H1004}.

20 But Samson's{H8123} wife{H802} was given to his companion{H4828}, whom he had used as his friend{H7462}{(H8765)}.