14Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there.H8123H3381H8553H7200H802H8553H1323H6430 2He went back and told his father and his mother: "I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife."H5927H5046H1H517H559H7200H802H8553H1323H6430H3947H802 3But his father and mother said to him, "Can't you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife?" But Samson told his father, "Get her for me, because I want her."H1H517H559H369H802H1323H251H5971H1980H3947H802H6189H6430H8123H559H1H3947H3474H5869 4Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines were ruling over Israel.H1H517H3045H3068H1245H8385H6430H6256H6430H4910H3478 5Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,H3381H8123H3381H1H517H8553H935H3754H8553H3715H738H7580H7125 6the Spirit of the LORD took control of him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.H7307H3068H6743H8156H8156H1423H3972H3027H5046H1H517H6213 7Then he went and spoke to the woman, because Samson wanted her.H3381H1696H802H3474H8123H3474H5869 8After some time, when he returned to get her, he left [the road] to see the lion's carcass, and there was a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass.H3117H7725H3947H5493H7200H4658H738H5712H1682H1706H1472H738 9He scooped [some honey] into his hands and ate [it] as he went along. When he returned to his father and mother, he gave [some] to them and they ate [it]. But he did not tell them that he had scooped the honey from the lion's carcass.H7287H3709H3212H398H1980H1H517H5414H398H5046H7287H1706H1472H738 10His father went [to visit] the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as young men were accustomed to do.H1H3381H802H8123H6213H4960H970H6213 11When the Philistines saw him, they brought 30 men to accompany him.H7200H3947H7970H4828 12"Let me tell you a riddle," Samson said to them. "If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes.H8123H559H2330H2420H5046H5046H7651H3117H4960H4672H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H899 13But if you can't explain it to me, you must give me 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes." "Tell us your riddle," they replied. "Let's hear it."H3201H5046H5414H7970H5466H7970H2487H899H559H2330H2420H8085 14So he said to them: Out of the eater came something to eat, and out of the strong came something sweet. After three days, they were unable to explain the riddle.H559H398H3318H3978H5794H3318H4966H3201H7969H3117H5046H2420 15On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, "Persuade your husband to explain the riddle to us, or we will burn you and your father's household to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?"H7637H3117H559H8123H802H6601H376H5046H2420H8313H1H1004H784H7121H3423 16So Samson's wife came to him, weeping, and said, "You hate me and don't love me! You told my people the riddle, but haven't explained it to me." "Look," he said, "I haven't even explained it to my father or mother, so [why] should I explain it to you?"H8123H802H1058H559H8130H157H2330H2420H1121H5971H5046H559H5046H1H517H5046 17She wept the whole seven days of the feast, and at last, on the seventh day, he explained it to her, because she had nagged him so much. Then she explained it to her people.H1058H7651H3117H4960H1961H7637H3117H5046H6693H5046H2420H1121H5971 18On the seventh day before sunset, the men of the city said to him: What is sweeter than honey? What is stronger than a lion? So he said to them: If you hadn't plowed with my young cow, you wouldn't know my riddle now!H582H5892H559H7637H3117H2775H935H4966H1706H5794H738H559H3884H2790H5697H4672H2420 19The Spirit of the LORD took control of him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 of their men. He stripped them and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. In a rage, Samson returned to his father's house,H7307H3068H6743H3381H831H5221H7970H376H3947H2488H5414H2487H5046H2420H639H2734H5927H1H1004 20and his wife was given to one of the men who had accompanied him.H8123H802H4828H7462
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
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