Iudicum 14

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Descendit ergo Samson in Thamnatha : vidensque ibi mulierem de filiabus Philisthiim,	1 Samson went down to Timnah and saw there one of the Philistine women.
2 ascendit, et nuntiavit patri suo et matri suæ, dicens : Vidi mulierem in Thamnatha de filiabus Philisthinorum : quam quæso ut mihi accipiatis uxorem.	2 On his return he told his father and mother, "There is a Philistine woman I saw in Timnah whom I wish you to get as a wife for me."
3 Cui dixerunt pater et mater sua : Numquid non est mulier in filiabus fratrum tuorum, et in omni populo meo, quia vis accipere uxorem de Philisthiim, qui incircumcisi sunt ? Dixitque Samson ad patrem suum : Hanc mihi accipe : quia placuit oculis meis.	3 His father and mother said to him, "Can you find no wife among your kinsfolk or among all our people, that you must go and take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson answered his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me."
4 Parentes autem ejus nesciebant quod res a Domino fieret, et quæreret occasionem contra Philisthiim : eo enim tempore Philisthiim dominabantur Israëli.	4 Now his father and mother did not know that this had been brought about by the LORD, who was providing an opportunity against the Philistines; for at that time they had dominion over Israel.
5 Descendit itaque Samson cum patre suo et matre in Thamnatha. Cumque venissent ad vineas oppidi, apparuit catulus leonis sævus, et rugiens, et occurrit ei.	5 So Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. When they had come to the vineyards of Timnah, a young lion came roaring to meet him.
6 Irruit autem spiritus Domini in Samson, et dilaceravit leonem, quasi hædum in frustra discerpens, nihil omnino habens in manu : et hoc patri et matri noluit indicare.	6 But the spirit of the LORD came upon Samson, and although he had no weapons, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a kid.
7 Descenditque, et locutus est mulieri quæ placuerat oculis ejus.	7 However, on the journey to speak for the woman, he did not mention to his father or mother what he had done.
8 Et post aliquot dies revertens ut acciperet eam, declinavit ut videret cadaver leonis, et ecce examen apum in ore leonis erat ac favus mellis.	8 Later, when he returned to marry the woman who pleased him, he stepped aside to look at the remains of the lion and found a swarm of bees and honey in the lion's carcass.
9 Quem cum sumpsisset in manibus comedebat in via : veniensque ad patrem suum et matrem, dedit eis partem, qui et ipsi comederunt : nec tamen eis voluit indicare quod mel de corpore leonis assumpserat.	9 So he scooped the honey out into his palms and ate it as he went along. When he came to his father and mother, he gave them some to eat, without telling them that he had scooped the honey from the lion's carcass.
10 Descendit itaque pater ejus ad mulierem, et fecit filio suo Samson convivium : sic enim juvenes facere consueverant.	10 His father also went down to the woman, and Samson gave a banquet there, since it was customary for the young men to do this.
11 Cum ergo cives loci illius vidissent eum, dederunt ei sodales triginta ut essent cum eo.	11 When they met him, they brought thirty men to be his companions.
12 Quibus locutus est Samson : Proponam vobis problema : quod si solveritis mihi intra septem dies convivii, dabo vobis triginta sindones, et totidem tunicas :	12 Samson said to them, "Let me propose a riddle to you. If within the seven days of the feast you solve it for me successfully, I will give you thirty linen tunics and thirty sets of garments.
13 sin autem non potueritis solvere, vos dabitis mihi triginta sindones, et ejusdem numeri tunicas. Qui responderunt ei : Propone problema, ut audiamus.	13 But if you cannot answer it for me, you must give me thirty tunics and thirty sets of garments." "Propose your riddle," they responded; "we will listen to it."
14 Dixitque eis : De comedente exivit cibus, et de forti egressa est dulcedo. Nec potuerunt per tres dies propositionem solvere.	14 So he said to them,
15 Cumque adesset dies septimus, dixerunt ad uxorem Samson : Blandire viro tuo et suade ei ut indicet tibi quid significet problema : quod si facere nolueris, incendemus te, et domum patris tui : an idcirco vocastis nos ad nuptias ut spoliaretis ?	15 they said on the fourth day to Samson's wife, "Coax your husband to answer the riddle for us, or we will burn you and your family. Did you invite us here to reduce us to poverty?"
16 Quæ fundebat apud Samson lacrimas, et quærebatur, dicens : Odisti me, et non diligis : idcirco problema, quod proposuisti filiis populi mei, non vis mihi exponere. At ille respondit : Patri meo et matri nolui dicere : et tibi indicare potero ?	16 At Samson's side, his wife wept and said, "You must hate me; you do not love me, for you have proposed a riddle to my countrymen, but have not told me the answer." He said to her, "If I have not told it even to my father or my mother, must I tell it to you?"
17 Septem igitur diebus convivii flebat ante eum : tandemque die septimo cum ei esset molesta, exposuit. Quæ statim indicavit civibus suis.	17 But she wept beside him during the seven days the feast lasted. On the seventh day, since she importuned him, he told her the answer, and she explained the riddle to her countrymen.
18 Et illi dixerunt ei die septimo ante solis occubitum : Quid dulcius melle, et quid fortius leone ? Qui ait ad eos : Si non arassetis in vitula mea, non invenissetis propositionem meam.	18 On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him,
19 Irruit itaque in eum spiritus Domini, descenditque Ascalonem, et percussit ibi triginta viros : quorum ablatas vestes dedit iis qui problema solverant. Iratusque nimis ascendit in domum patris sui :	19 The spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty of their men and despoiled them; he gave their garments to those who had answered the riddle. Then he went off to his own family in anger,
20 uxor autem ejus accepit maritum unum de amicis ejus et pronubis.	20 and Samson's wife was married to the one who had been best man at his wedding.