Judges 14

And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.

Samson journeyed to Timnath, where he was captivated by the sight of a Philistine woman.

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.

He approached his parents, his heart pounding with excitement. "I've met a woman in Timnath, a Philistine beauty," he confessed, his eyes sparkling with desire. "Please," he pleaded, "arrange for her to become my wife."

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.

His parents asked him, "Isn't there a woman from our own people you could marry? Why choose a Philistine?" But Samson replied, "I want her, she's the one who has captured my heart."

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.

His parents were unaware that it was God's plan for him to challenge the Philistines, who were oppressing Israel at that time.

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.

Samson, along with his parents, journeyed to Timnath. Upon reaching the vineyards there, they were met with the terrifying roar of a young lion.

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.

The Lord's Spirit surged powerfully within him, enabling him to tear apart his adversary as easily as one would a young goat, even though he was unarmed. Yet, he kept this feat a secret from his parents.

And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson well.

Samson descended, engaging in conversation with the woman. He found her company delightful.

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.

After a while, he came back to claim her. Curiosity led him to the lion's remains, where, to his surprise, he found bees buzzing and honey flowing within the lifeless beast.

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.

He scooped up the honey with his hands, savoring its sweetness as he walked. Upon reaching his parents, he shared the honey with them. They enjoyed it, oblivious to the fact that it was sourced from the carcass of a lion.

So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.

His father journeyed to meet the woman, and Samson threw a grand party, as was the custom of young men of that time.

And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him.

When they spotted him, they excitedly gathered thirty friends to join him.

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:

Samson challenged them, "I have a riddle for you. If you can solve it within the seven days of our feast, I'll reward you with thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. Can you do it?"

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.

If you can't solve my riddle, you owe me thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes. They responded, "Go ahead, tell us your riddle so we can hear it."

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.

He told them, "From the predator came food, from the mighty came sweetness." Yet, they couldn't solve this puzzle even after three days.

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?

On the seventh day, they pressured Samson's wife, "Seduce your husband, make him reveal the riddle. If not, we'll set you and your father's house ablaze. Did you invite us just to rob us? Is that it?"

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?

Tears streamed down Samson's wife's face as she accused him, "You don't love me, you despise me. You've shared a riddle with my people, but not with me." Samson replied, "I haven't even told my parents, why should I tell you?"

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.

She cried before him throughout the seven-day feast. On the final day, he gave in to her relentless pleas and shared the secret. She, in turn, revealed the riddle to her people.

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.

The townsfolk asked him, as the sun began to set on the seventh day, "What's sweeter than honey? What's mightier than a lion?" He replied, "Had you not plowed with my heifer, working on my wife, you wouldn't have solved my riddle."

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.

The Lord's spirit filled him with power. He journeyed to Ashkelon, where he killed thirty men, took their clothes, and gave them to those who had solved his riddle. Overwhelmed with anger, he returned to his father's home.

But Samson’s wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his friend.

Samson's wife was heartbreakingly handed over to his close friend.