Judges 14

Judges Chapter 14 KJV

1Samson desireth to take one of the daughters of the Philistines to wife. 5In his journey to Timnath he killeth a lion. 8In a second journey thither he findeth honey in the lion's carcase. 10Samson's marriage feast. 12His riddle, which his wife prevaileth upon him to unfold to her, and she discovereth to the guests. 19He slayeth thirty Philistines, and giveth their spoil to those who had expounded his riddle; he leaveth his wife in anger, who is given to another.
1 And Samson went down to 1Timnath, and 2saw 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 1get her for me to wife.
3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of 1thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the 2uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me; for ashe pleaseth me well.
4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was 1of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines 2had 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, 1a young lion roared aagainst him.
6 1And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and he 2rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: 3but 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 1to 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 1made there a feast; for so used the young men to do.
11 And it came to pass, when they 1saw him, that they brought 2thirty companions to be with him.
12 ¶ And Samson said unto them, I will now 1put forth a riddle unto you: if ye can certainly declare it me within the 2seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty asheets and thirty 3change of garments:
13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty asheets and thirty 1change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle, that we may hear it.
14 And he said unto them, 1Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And 2they 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, 1Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, 2lest we burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us ato take that we have? is it not so?
16 And Samson's wife 1wept 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 athe seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because 1she lay sore upon him: and 2she 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 1Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he went down to 2Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their aspoil, 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 1was given to his companion, whom he had 2used as his friend.
Judges 14