5. Samson went down to Timnah. When he approached the vineyards of Timnah, he saw a roaring young lion attacking him.
6. The Lord’s spirit empowered him and he tore the lion in two with his bare hands as easily as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.
7. Samson continued on down to Timnah and spoke to the girl. In his opinion, she was just the right one.
8. Some time later, when he went back to marry her, he turned aside to see the lion’s remains. He saw a swarm of bees in the lion’s carcass, as well as some honey.
9. He scooped it up with his hands and ate it as he walked along. When he returned to his father and mother, he offered them some and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had scooped the honey out of the lion’s carcass.
10. Then Samson’s father accompanied him to Timnah for the marriage. Samson hosted a party there, for this was customary for bridegrooms to do.
11. When the Philistines saw he had no attendants, they gave him thirty groomsmen who kept him company.
12. Samson said to them, “I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts, I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.
13. But if you cannot solve it, you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.” They said to him, “Let us hear your riddle.”
14. He said to them,“Out of the one who eats came something to eat;out of the strong one came something sweet.”They could not solve the riddle for three days.
15. On the fourth day they said to Samson’s bride, “Trick your husband into giving the solution to the riddle. If you refuse, we will burn up you and your father’s family. Did you invite us here to make us poor?”