Judges 14 The riddle of Samson

 Judges 14

The riddle of Samson

12 Then Samson said to them, "I will give you a riddle to guess, and if you tell me and find out within seven days of the wedding, I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of dresses."

13 And if you cannot declare it to me, you will give me the thirty sheets and the thirty changes of dresses. And they said to him, Give us your riddle to guess, that we may hear it.

14 Then he said to him, Food came out of the eater, and sweetness came out of the forts. And in three days they were unable to declare the riddle.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Persuade your husband to declare the riddle to us so that we may not be burned to the fire by you and your father's house: you have called us here to possess what is ours, isn't it?

16 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, You only hate me, and you do not love me, for you have given the children of my people a riddle to guess, and you have not yet told me. And he said to him, "Behold, neither my father nor my mother have I declared it, and would I declare it to you?"

17 And he wept before him the seven days on which they were celebrating the wedding: it happened, therefore, that on the seventh day he declared it to him, because he bothered him; so she declared the riddle to the children of her people.

18 Then the men of that city said to him, on the seventh day, before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than the lion? And he said to them, If you had not plowed with my heifer, you would never have discovered my riddle.

19 Then the spirit of the Lord so powerfully took hold of him, that he came down to the Ascalonites, and killed thirty of them, and took their dresses, and gave the seedlings of dresses to those who declared the riddle: but his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.

20 And Samson's wife was given to her companion, who accompanied him.