Judges 14:1-18

Judges 14:1-18

[1] And Samson  went down  to Timnath,  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  her for me to 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.  [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.  [5] Samson  down,  and his father  and his mother,  to Timnath,  and came  to the vineyards  of Timnath:  and, behold, a young  lion  roared  against  [6] And the Spirit  of the LORD  came mightily  upon him, and he rent  a kid,  and he had nothing  in his hand:  but he told  not his father  or his mother  what he had done.  [7] And he went down,  and talked  with the woman;  Samson  well.  [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,  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.  [10] So his father  went down  unto the woman:  and Samson  made  there a feast;  for so used the young men  to do.  [11] And it came to pass, when they saw  him, that they brought  thirty  companions  [12] And Samson  said  unto them, I will now put forth  a riddle  unto you: if ye can certainly  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:  [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 eater  came forth  meat,  and out of the strong  came forth  sweetness.  And they could  not in three  days  expound  the riddle.  [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? [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? [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.  [18] 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.