1 descendit igitur Samson in Thamnatha
vidensque ibi mulierem de filiabus Philisthim
2 ascendit et nuntiavit patri suo et matri dicens
vidi mulierem in Thamnatha de filiabus Philisthinorum
quam quaeso ut mihi accipiatis uxorem
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 Philisthim qui incircumcisi sunt
dixitque Samson ad patrem suum
hanc mihi accipe quia placuit oculis meis
4 parentes autem eius nesciebant quod res a Domino fieret
et quaereret occasionem contra Philisthim
eo enim tempore Philisthim dominabantur Israheli
5 descendit itaque Samson cum patre suo et matre in Thamnatha
cumque venissent ad vineas oppidi
apparuit catulus leonis saevus rugiens
et occurrit ei
6 inruit autem spiritus Domini in Samson et dilaceravit leonem
quasi hedum in frusta concerperet
nihil omnino habens in manu
et hoc patri et matri noluit indicare
7 descenditque et locutus est mulieri quae placuerat oculis eius
8 et post aliquot dies revertens ut acciperet eam
declinavit ut videret cadaver leonis
et ecce examen apium in ore leonis erat ac favus mellis
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 adsumpserat
10 descendit itaque pater eius ad mulierem
et fecit filio suo Samson convivium
sic enim iuvenes facere consuerant
11 cum igitur cives loci vidissent eum
dederunt ei sodales triginta qui essent cum eo
12 quibus locutus est Samson
proponam vobis problema
quod si solveritis mihi intra septem dies convivii
dabo vobis triginta sindones et totidem tunicas
13 sin autem non potueritis solvere
vos dabitis mihi triginta sindones et eiusdem numeri tunicas
qui responderunt ei
propone problema ut audiamus
14 dixitque eis
de comedente exivit cibus et de forte est egressa dulcedo
nec potuerunt per tres dies propositionem solvere
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 incendimus et te et
domum patris tui
an idcirco nos vocastis ad nuptias ut spoliaretis
16 quae fundebat apud Samson lacrimas et querebatur 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
17 septem igitur diebus convivii flebat apud eum
tandemque die septimo cum ei molesta esset exposuit
quae statim indicavit civibus suis
18 et illi dixerunt ei die septimo ante solis occubitum
quid dulcius melle et quid leone fortius
qui ait ad eos
si non arassetis in vitula mea
non invenissetis propositionem meam
19 inruit itaque in eo spiritus Domini
descenditque Ascalonem et percussit ibi triginta viros
quorum ablatas vestes dedit his qui problema solverant
iratusque nimis ascendit in domum patris sui
20 uxor autem eius accepit maritum unum de amicis eius et pronubis
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 ¶ 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 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 And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased 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, 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 ¶ 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 to be with him.
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 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 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 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 But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.