1 And Samson8123 went3381 down3381 to Timnath,8553 and saw7200 a woman802 in Timnath8553 of the daughters1323 of the Philistines.6430

2 And he came5927 up, and told5046 his father1 and his mother,517 and said,559 I have seen7200 a woman802 in Timnath8553 of the daughters1323 of the Philistines:6430 now6258 therefore get3947 her for me to wife.802

3 Then his father1 and his mother517 said559 to him, Is there never369 a woman802 among the daughters1323 of your brothers,251 or among all3605 my people,5971 that you go1980 to take3947 a wife802 of the uncircumcised6189 Philistines?6430 And Samson8123 said559 to his father,1 Get3947 her for me; for she pleases3477 5869 me well.

4 But his father1 and his mother517 knew3045 not that it was of the LORD,3068 that he sought1245 an occasion8385 against the Philistines:6430 for at that time6256 the Philistines6430 had dominion4910 over Israel.3478

5 Then went3381 Samson8123 down,3381 and his father1 and his mother,517 to Timnath,8553 and came935 to the vineyards3754 of Timnath:8553 and, behold,2009 a young3715 lion738 roared7580 against7125 him.

6 And the Spirit7307 of the LORD3068 came6743 mightily on him, and he rent8156 him as he would have rent8156 a kid,1423 and he had nothing3972 369 in his hand:3027 but he told5046 not his father1 or his mother517 what853 834 he had done.6213

7 And he went3381 down,3381 and talked1696 with the woman;802 and she pleased3477 5869 Samson8123 well.

8 And after a time3117 he returned7725 to take3947 her, and he turned5493 aside to see7200 the carcass4658 of the lion:738 and, behold,2009 there was a swarm5712 of bees1682 and honey1706 in the carcass1472 of the lion.738

9 And he took7287 thereof in his hands,3709 and went3212 on eating,398 and came1980 to his father1 and mother,517 and he gave5414 them, and they did eat:398 but he told5046 not them that he had taken7287 the honey1706 out of the carcass1472 of the lion.738

10 So his father1 went3381 down3381 to the woman:802 and Samson8123 made6213 there8033 a feast;4960 for so3651 used the young970 men to do.6213

11 And it came1961 to pass, when they saw7200 him, that they brought3947 thirty7970 companions4828 to be with him.

12 And Samson8123 said559 to them, I will now4994 put2330 forth2330 a riddle2420 to you: if518 you can certainly declare5046 it me within the seven7651 days3117 of the feast,4960 and find4672 it out, then I will give5414 you thirty7970 sheets5466 and thirty7970 change2487 of garments:899

13 But if518 you cannot3808 3201 declare5046 it me, then shall you give5414 me thirty7970 sheets5466 and thirty7970 change2487 of garments.899 And they said559 to him, Put2330 forth2330 your riddle,2420 that we may hear8085 it.

14 And he said559 to them, Out of the eater398 came3318 forth3318 meat,3978 and out of the strong5794 came3318 forth3318 sweetness.4966 And they could3201 not in three7969 days3117 expound5046 the riddle.2420

15 And it came1961 to pass on the seventh7637 day,3117 that they said559 to Samson's8123 wife,802 Entice6601 your husband,376 that he may declare5046 to us the riddle,2420 lest6435 we burn8313 you and your father's1 house1004 with fire:784 have you called7121 us to take3423 that we have? is it not so?

16 And Samson's8123 wife802 wept1058 before5921 him, and said,559 You do but hate8130 me, and love157 me not: you have put2330 forth2330 a riddle2420 to the children1121 of my people,5971 and have not told5046 it me. And he said559 to her, Behold,2009 I have not told5046 it my father1 nor3808 my mother,517 and shall I tell5046 it you?

17 And she wept1058 before5921 him the seven7651 days,3117 while their feast4960 lasted:1961 and it came1961 to pass on the seventh7637 day,3117 that he told5046 her, because3588 she lay sore on him: and she told5046 the riddle2420 to the children1121 of her people.5971

18 And the men582 of the city5892 said559 to him on the seventh7637 day3117 before2962 the sun2775 went935 down,3381 What4100 is sweeter4966 than honey?1706 And what4100 is stronger5794 than a lion?738 and he said559 to them, If3884 you had not plowed2790 with my heifer,5697 you had not found4672 out my riddle.2420

19 And the Spirit7307 of the LORD3068 came6743 on him, and he went3381 down3381 to Ashkelon,831 and slew5221 thirty7970 men376 of them, and took3947 their spoil,2488 and gave5414 change2487 of garments to them which expounded5046 the riddle.2420 And his anger639 was kindled,2734 and he went5927 up to his father's1 house.1004

20 But Samson's8123 wife802 was given to his companion,4828 whom834 he had used as his friend.7462