Judges 14

NEW JERUSALEM	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he noticed a woman, a Philistine girl.	1 And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.
2 He went home again and told his father and mother this. 'At Timnah', he said, 'I noticed a woman, aPhilistine girl. So now get her for me, to be my wife.'	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 His father and mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among your brothers' daughters or in our entirenation, for you to go and take a wife among these uncircumcised Philistines?' But Samson said to his father, 'Getthat one for me; she is the one I am fond of.'	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 His father and mother did not know that al this came from Yahweh, who was seeking grounds for aquarrel with the Philistines, since at this time the Philistines dominated Israel.	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 went down to Timnah and, as he reached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a young lioncoming roaring towards him.	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.
6 The spirit of Yahweh seized on him and he tore the lion to pieces with his bare hands as though it werea kid; but he did not tel his father or mother what he had done.	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.
7 He went down and talked to the woman, and he became fond of her.	7 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.
8 Not long after this, Samson went back to marry her. He went out of his way to look at the carcase ofthe lion, and there was a swarm of bees in the lion's body, and honey.	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 He took up some honey in his hand and ate it as he went along. On returning to his father and mother,he gave some to them, which they ate too, but he did not tel them that he had taken it from the lion's carcase.	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.
10 His father then went down to the woman, and Samson made a feast there, as is the custom for youngmen.	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 when the Philistines saw him, they chose thirty companions to stay with him.	11 And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12 Samson then said to them, 'Let me ask you a riddle. If you can give me the answer during the sevendays of feasting, I shal give you thirty pieces of fine linen and thirty festal robes.	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:
13 But if you cannot tell me the answer, then you in your turn must give me thirty pieces of fine linen andthirty festal robes.' 'Ask your riddle,' they replied, 'we are listening.'	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 So he said to them: Out of the eater came what is eaten, and out of the strong came what is sweet.But three days went by and they could not solve the riddle.	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 On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, 'Cajole your husband into explaining the riddle to us, orwe shal burn you and your father's family to death. Did you invite us here to rob us?'	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 Samson's wife then went to him in tears and said, 'You only hate me, you do not love me. You haveasked my fel ow countrymen a riddle and told not even me the answer.' He said to her, 'I have not told even myfather or mother; why should I tel you?'	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 She wept on his neck for the seven days that their feasting lasted. She was so persistent that on theseventh day he told her the answer, and she told her fel ow-countrymen.	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 So on the seventh day, before he went into the bedroom, the men of the town said to him: What issweeter than honey, and what stronger than a lion? He retorted: If you had not ploughed with my heifer, youwould never have solved my riddle.	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 Then the spirit of Yahweh seized on him. He went down to Ashkelon, kil ed thirty men there, tookwhat they wore and gave the festal robes to those who had answered the riddle, then burning with rage returnedto his father's house.	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.
20 Samson's wife was then given to the companion who had acted as his best man.	20 But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.