One day Samson went down to Timnah , where he saw ... a young Philistine woman ....
So he returned and told his father and mother - - , “ I have seen a daughter of the Philistines in Timnah. Now get her as a wife. ”
But his father and mother replied “ Can’t you (find) a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people ? - - Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife ? ” But Samson ... told his father , “ Get her for she is pleasing to my eyes. ”
( Now his father and mother did not know ... this was from the LORD , who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines ; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel. )
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion ... came roaring at him ,
and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him , and he tore the lion apart with his bare ... hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother - what he had done.
Then (Samson) continued on his way down and spoke to the woman , because she was pleasing to his eyes.
When (Samson) returned later to take her , he left the road to see - the lion’s carcass , and in (it) ... was a swarm of bees , along with their honey.
So he scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along .... And when he returned to his father ... and mother , he gave and they ate it. But he did not tell that he had taken the honey from the lion’s carcass.
Then his father went to visit the woman , and Samson prepared a feast there , as ... was customary for the bridegroom.
And when (the Philistines) saw him , - they selected thirty men to accompany him ... ....
“ Let me tell ... a riddle , ” Samson said “ If you can solve ... it (within the) seven days of the feast - , I will give thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
But if you cannot ... solve it you must give thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. ” “ Tell us your riddle , ” they replied “ Let us hear it. ”
So he said “ Out of the eater came something to eat , and out of the strong came something sweet. ” For three days they were unable ... to explain the riddle.
So on the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife , “ Entice - your husband to explain the riddle - or we will burn you - and your father’s household to death. Did you invite us ... to rob us ? ”
Then Samson’s wife came to him , weeping , and said , ... “ You hate me ! You do not really love me ! You have posed to my people ... a riddle , but have not explained it to me. ” “ Look , ” he said “ I have not even explained it to my father or mother , so why should I explain it
She wept ... the whole seven days - - of the feast , and finally on the seventh day , because she had pressed him so much , he told And in turn she explained the riddle to her people ....
Before sunset ... on the seventh day , the men of the city said “ What is sweeter than honey ? And what (is) stronger than a lion ? ” So he said “ If you had not plowed with my heifer , you would not have solved my riddle ! ”
Then the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him , and he went down to Ashkelon , killed thirty of their men , took - their apparel , and gave their clothes to those who had solved the riddle. And burning with anger , Samson returned to his father’s house ,
and his ... wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied