1. Samson went down to the city of Timnah. There he saw a young Philistine woman.
2. When he returned home, he said to his father and mother, “I saw a Philistine woman in Timnah. I want you to get her for me. I want to marry her.”
3. His father and mother answered, “Surely there is a woman from Israel you can marry. Do you have to marry a woman from the Philistines? The Philistines are not even circumcised.”But Samson said, “Get that woman for me! She is the one I want!”
4. (Samson’s parents did not know that the Lord wanted this to happen. He was looking for a way to start a fight with the Philistines. They were ruling over Israel at this time.)
5. Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah. They went as far as the vineyard near there. Suddenly, a young lion came roaring toward Samson!
6. The Spirit of the Lord entered Samson with great power. Samson tore the lion apart with his bare hands. For him it was as easy as tearing apart a young goat. But Samson did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7. Then he went down to the city. There he talked to the Philistine woman, and he liked her.
8. Several days later Samson went back to marry her. On his way he went over to look at the body of the dead lion. He found a swarm of bees in it. They had made some honey.
9. Samson got some of the honey with his hands. He walked along eating it. When he came to his parents, he gave some to them. They ate it, too. But Samson did not tell them he had taken the honey from the body of the dead lion.
10. Samson’s father went down to see the Philistine woman. The custom was for the bridegroom to give a feast. So Samson gave a feast.
11. When the people saw him, they sent 30 men to be with him.
12. Then Samson said to the 30 men, “Let me tell you a riddle. This feast will last for seven days. Try to find the answer during that time. If you can, I will give you 30 linen shirts. I will also give you 30 changes of clothes.
13. But if you can’t tell me the answer, you must pay me. You must give me 30 linen shirts and 30 changes of clothes.”So they said, “Tell us your riddle. We want to hear it.”
14. Samson said,“Out of the eater comes something to eat.Out of the strong comes something sweet.”The 30 men tried for three days to figure it out. But they could not find the answer.