1
And Shimshon went down to Timnah, and saw an ishah in Timnah from the daughters of the Pelishtim.
2
And he went up and declared it to his father and to his mother, and said, “I have seen an ishah in Timnah from the daughters of the Pelishtim. And now, take her for me as an ishah.”
3
And his father and his mother said to him, “Is there no ishah among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you must go to take an ishah from the uncircumcised Pelishtim?” And Shimshon said to his father, “Take her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
4
But his father and his mother did not know that it was from Yahuah, for He was seeking an occasion against the Pelishtim. And at that time the Pelishtim ruled over Yisra’el.
5
And Shimshon went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnah. And they came to the vineyards of Timnah, and see, a young lion roared toward him.
6
And the Ruach of Yahuah rushed upon him, and he tore it apart as one tears apart a young goat, though there was nothing in his hand. But he did not declare to his father or to his mother what he had done.
7
And he went down and spoke with the ishah, and she was right in the eyes of Shimshon.
8
And after days he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And see, a swarm of bees was in the body of the lion, and honey.
9
And he scraped it into his palms and went on, eating as he walked. And he came to his father and to his mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not declare to them that he had scraped the honey from the body of the lion.
10
And his father went down to the ishah, and Shimshon made there a feast, for so the young men used to do.
11
And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they took thirty companions, and they were with him.
12
And Shimshon said to them, “Please, let me put a riddle to you. If declaring, you surely declare it to me within the seven days of the feast and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.
13
But if you are not able to declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothing.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, and let us hear it.”
14
And he said to them: “From the eater came out food, and from the strong came out sweetness.” And for three days they were not able to declare the riddle.
15
And it came to pass on the seventh day that they said to the ishah of Shimshon, “Entice your ish, that he may declare to us the riddle, lest we burn you and the house of your father with fire. Did you call us here to dispossess us?”
16
And the ishah of Shimshon wept before him and said, “You only hate me and do not love me. You have put a riddle to the sons of my people, but to me you have not declared it.” And he said to her, “See, I have not declared it to my father or to my mother, and shall I declare it to you?”
17
And she wept before him the seven days while their feast lasted. And it came to pass on the seventh day that he declared it to her, because she pressed him. And she declared the riddle to the sons of her people.
18
And the men of the city said to 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 to them: “If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would not have found out my riddle.”
19
And the Ruach of Yahuah rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashqelon and struck thirty ish from among them, and took their spoil, and gave the changes of clothing to those who had declared the riddle. And his anger burned, and he went up to the house of his father.
20
And the ishah of Shimshon became the ishah of his companion, who had been his friend.