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.

1 参孙下到亭拿， 在亭拿看见了一个女子， 是一个非利士人的女儿。

2 参孙上来告诉他的父母， 说： "我在亭拿看见一个女子， 是一个非利士人的女儿； 现在请你们把她娶来给我作妻子。"

3 他的父母对他说： "在你兄弟的女儿中， 或是在你所有的族人中， 难道没有一个女子， 以致你要去从那些未受割礼的非利士人中娶妻呢？"参孙对他的父亲说： "请你把她娶来给我， 因为我看中她。"

4 他的父母却不知道这事是出于耶和华， 因为他正在找机会攻击非利士人。那时非利士人正统治着以色列人。

5 参孙跟他的父母下到亭拿去， 到了亭拿的葡萄园； 忽然见一只少壮狮子向他吼叫。

6 耶和华的灵大大感动参孙， 他虽然手里没有武器， 竟把狮子撕裂， 像人撕裂山羊羔一样； 他没有把他所作的这事告诉他的父母。

7 参孙下去， 和那女子说话， 就看中了她。

8 过了些日子， 参孙回去迎娶那女子， 他转向一旁去看看那只死了的狮子； 看见有一群蜂子和一些蜂蜜在狮子的尸体内。

9 他刮了些蜂蜜， 放在手里， 就走了； 他一面走， 一面吃， 直走到他的父母那里去； 他又把蜂蜜给了他们， 他们也吃了； 但是他没有告诉他们这蜂蜜是从狮子的尸体内刮下来的。

10 参孙的父亲下去见那女子， 参孙在那里摆设了筵席， 因为青年人都惯常这样行。

11 众人看见参孙， 就请了三十个人陪伴他。

12 参孙对他们说： "现在让我给你们出一个谜语， 你们在七天婚宴之内， 如果能猜出来， 把它的意思清楚告诉我， 我就给你们三十件内衣、三十套衣服。

13 如果你们不能告诉我， 你们就要给我三十件内衣、三十套衣服。"他们对他说： "请你把谜语说给我们听。"

14 参孙对他们说： "可吃的从吃者出来； 甜的从强者出来。"他们过了三日都不能说出谜语的意思。

15 到了第四天， 他们对参孙的妻子说： "你要引诱你的丈夫， 使他把谜语的意思告诉我们， 否则我们用火烧你和你的父家。难道你们请了我们来， 是要夺取我们所有的吗？"

16 参孙的妻子在丈夫面前哭哭啼啼， 说： "你只是恨我， 不是爱我； 你给我的族人设谜语， 却没有把谜语的意思告诉我。"参孙对她说： "连我父母我都没有告诉， 怎能告诉你呢？"

17 在那七天婚宴期内， 她在丈夫跟前常常哭哭啼啼； 到了第七天， 因为她催逼着参孙， 参孙才告诉她； 于是她把谜语的意思告诉她的族人。

18 到了第七天太阳未落以前， 城里的人就对参孙说： "有什么比蜂蜜还甜呢？有什么比狮子还强呢？"参孙对他们说： "你们若不是用我的母牛犊耕田， 你们就不会猜出我的谜语的意思来。"

19 耶和华的灵大大感动参孙， 参孙就下到亚实基伦， 击杀了他们中间三十个人， 拿了剥下来的衣服， 把三十套衣服给了那些把谜语的意思说出来的人； 参孙怒气冲冲地上自己的父家去了。

20 参孙的妻子却归了一个陪伴参孙的人， 就是作过他伴郎的。