Judges, 14

1. And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

1. Samson went down to Timnah and saw a Philistine woman.

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.

2. He came up and said to his father and mother, "I have seen a Philistine woman at Timnah; get her for me that she may be my wife."

3. Then his father and his mother said 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 uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

3. His father and mother said to him, "Is there no one among the daughters of your brothers and among all your people that you should go and take a wife from among those uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for I like her."

4. But his father and his mother knew 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.

4. His father and mother did not know that this came from Yahweh who was seeking a quarrel with the Philistines; for at that time, the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

5. Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against him.

5. Samson then went down to Timnah, and when he reached the vineyards at Timnah, a young lion came up roaring toward him.

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.

6. The Spirit of Yahweh then seized Samson. With bare hands he tore the lion to pieces as he would have done with a young goat.

7. And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

7. But he told neither his father or 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.

8. Then he went down and talked to the woman who pleased him. After some time, he returned to take her. He went out of his way to look at the carcass of the lion. He found a swarm of bees and honey in the lion's carcass.

9. And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, 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.

9. Samson scraped the honey into his hands and ate it as he walked. When he reached his parents, he gave them honey and they ate it, too. But he did not tell them he had taken the honey from the lion's carcass.

10. So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

10. Then, Samson's father went down to the woman and Samson offered a banquet as was the custom among the young.

11. And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

11. When he appeared, the Philistines assigned thirty men to go with him as his wedding companions.

12. And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

12. Samson said to them, "I am going to give you a riddle. If you can give me the right solution within seven days of the feast, I shall give you thirty tunics and thirty linen garments.

13. But if ye cannot declare [it] me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.

13. But if you can't tell me the solution, you will give me thirty tunics and thirty linen garments." They answered, "Tell your riddle; we are listening."

14. And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle.

14. He said to them, "From him who eats came what is eaten, and from the strong, sweetness came."

15. And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? [is it] not [so]?

15. After three days, they had not guessed the riddle. So on the fourth day, they said to Samson's wife, "Convince your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father's family. Did you invite us to rob us?"

16. And Samson's wife wept 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?

16. Samson's wife began to weep and she threw herself upon her husband saying, "You do not like me or love me anymore. You have given a riddle to the young men of my people, but you have not explained it to me." He said to her, "I have not explained it even to my parents, why should I explain it to 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 lay sore upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

17. She cried before him for seven days while the feast lasted. On the seventh day, he explained it to her for he was bored with her crying. She then related it to her countrymen.

18. And the men of the city said unto 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 unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.

18. On the seventh day, before the married couple were to enter the wedding chamber, the people of the city said to Samson, "What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion?" He said to them, "If you had not plowed with my young cow, you would not have guessed my riddle."

19. And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

19. Then the Spirit of Yahweh seized him. He went down to Ashkelon, killed thirty men, took their plunder and gave the linen garments to those who had guessed the riddle. Then, in great anger, he came up to his father's house.

20. But Samson's wife was [given] to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

20. So Samson's wife was given to one of his wedding companions.