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1 | And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of
the daughters of the Philistines. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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7 | And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased
Samson well. |
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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. |
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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. |
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10 | So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there
a feast; for so used the young men to do. |
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11 | And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought
thirty companions to be with him. |
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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: |
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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. |
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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. |
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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? |
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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? |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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20 | But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used
as his friend. |
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