(KJV) Judges 14¹

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⥃Samson’s Marriage

[1] And Samson went down to Timnath², and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines. [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 her³ for me to wife. [3] Then his father and his mother said unto him, [Is there] never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren⁴, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised⁵ Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well⁶. [4] But his father and his mother knew not that it [was] of the Lord⁷, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion⁸ 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 him⁹. [6] And the Spirit¹⁰ of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he rent him¹¹ as he would have rent a kid, and [he had] nothing in his hand: but he told¹² not his father or his mother what he had done. [7] And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

⥃Samson’s Riddle

[8] [¶]And after a time he returned to take her¹³, and he turned aside to see the carcase of the lion: and, behold, [there was] a swarm¹⁴ of bees and honey in the carcase of the lion. [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.¹⁵

[10] So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there¹⁶ a feast; for so used the young men to do. [11] And it came to pass, when they saw him¹⁷, that they brought thirty¹⁸ companions to be with him.

[12] [¶]And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle¹⁹ unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven²⁰ days of the feast, and find [it] out, then I will give you thirty sheets²¹ and thirty change²² of garments:²³²⁴ [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. [14] And he said unto them, Out of the eater²⁵ came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could²⁶ not in three days expound the riddle. [15] And it came to pass on the seventh day²⁷, that they said unto Samson’s wife, Entice²⁸ thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn²⁹ thee and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have³⁰? [is it] not [so]? [16] And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost³¹ 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 not³² told [it] my father nor my mother, and shall I tell [it] thee? [17] And she wept before him the seven³³ days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay³⁴ sore upon him: and she told³⁵ the riddle to the children of her people. [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.

[19] [¶]And the Spirit³⁶ of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil³⁷, 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. [20] But Samson’s wife was [given] to³⁸ his companion, whom he had used as his friend³⁹.

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