1. Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young Philistine woman there.
2. He went back and told his father and his mother: “I have seen a young Philistine woman in Timnah. Now get her for me as a wife.”
3. But his father and mother said to him, “Can’t you find a young woman among your relatives or among any of our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines for a wife? ”But Samson told his father, “Get her for me, because I want her.”
4. Now his father and mother did not know this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines were ruling over Israel.
5. Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him,
6. the Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7. Then he went and spoke to the woman, because Samson wanted her.
8. After some time, when he returned to get her, he left the road to see the lion’s carcass, and there was a swarm of bees with honey in the carcass.
9. He scooped some honey into his hands and ate it as he went along. When he returned to his father and mother, he gave some to them and they ate it. But he did not tell them that he had scooped the honey from the lion’s carcass.
10. His father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as young men were accustomed to do.
11. When the Philistines saw him, they brought 30 men to accompany him.
12. “Let me tell you a riddle,” Samson said to them. “If you can explain it to me during the seven days of the feast and figure it out, I will give you 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes.
13. But if you can’t explain it to me, you must give me 30 linen garments and 30 changes of clothes.”“Tell us your riddle,” they replied. “Let’s hear it.”