1 And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 And he came up and told his father and mother, saying, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore, get her for me as a wife.
3 Then his father and mother said to him, Is there not a woman among the daughters of your brothers or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she pleases me well.
4 But his father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines, for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came roaring against him.
6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.
7 And he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well.
8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion.
9 And he took some in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them some, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion.
10 So his father went down to the woman, and Samson made there a feast, for so the young men used to do.
11 And it happened, when they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 And Samson said to them, I will now put forth a riddle to you. If you can certainly declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments.
13 But if you cannot declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. And they said to him, Put forth your riddle, so we may hear it.
14 And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days explain the riddle.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Entice your husband to tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not so?
16 And Samson's wife wept before him and said, You only hate me, and love me not. You have put forth a riddle to the children of my people, and have not told it to me. And he said to her, Behold, I have not told it to my father or my mother, and shall I tell you?
17 And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted. And it came to pass on the seventh day that he told her, because she pressed him greatly. And she told the riddle to the children of her people.
18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.