2
And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife.
3
Then his father and his mothersaid unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcisedPhilistines? And Samsonsaid unto his father,Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well*.
4
But his father and his motherknew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.
6
And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done.
8
And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion.
9
And he took thereof in his hands, and went oneating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.
12
And Samsonsaid unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainlydeclare it me within the sevendays of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirtysheets and thirtychange of garments:
13
But if ye cannotdeclare it me, then shall ye give me thirtysheets and thirtychange of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
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14
And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forthmeat, and out of the strong came forthsweetness. And they could not in threedaysexpound the riddle.
15
And it came to pass on the seventhday, that they said unto Samson'swife,Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father'shouse with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? is it not so?
16
And Samson'swifewept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?
17
And she wept before him the sevendays, while their feastlasted: and it came to pass on the seventhday, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.
18
And the men of the citysaid unto him on the seventhday before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.
19
And the Spirit of the LORDcame upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slewthirtymen of them, and took their spoil, and gavechange of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father'shouse.