11. When the Philistines saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him.
12. Samson said to them, “Let me tell you a riddle. If you can explain it to me within the seven days of the feast, then I will find thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes to give you.
13. However, if you are not able to explain it to me, then you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.”They said to him, “Tell us your riddle, so we can hear it.”
14. He said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat,and out of the strong came something sweet.”They could not explain the riddle after three days.
15. On the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Trick your groom into telling us the riddle, or we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you invited us to steal what we have? Is that not so?”
16. So Samson’s wife wept all over him and said, “You must hate me. You do not love me. You have told a riddle to the young men and did not tell it to me.”Then he said to her, “I have not told it to my father and mother. Why should I tell it to you?”
17. She wept on him for the seven days of the feast, then on the seventh day he told it to her because she had nagged him. Then she explained the riddle to her people.
18. So on the seventh day before sunset, the men of the city said to Samson, “What is sweeter than honey,and what is stronger than a lion?”Then he said to them, “If you had not plowed with my heifer,you would not have solved my riddle.”
19. Then the Spirit of the Lord mightily came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty of their men. He took their clothes and gave them to the ones who had explained the riddle. His anger burned and he went up to his father’s house.
20. So Samson’s wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.