Liber Iudicum

Iudicum, chapter 14, Vulgate and King James Version

Chapter 14 Vulgate

   1 Descendit igitur Samson in Thamna vidensque ibi mulie rem de filiabus Philisthim
   2 ascendit et nuntiavit patri suo et matri dicens: "Vidi mulierem in Thamna de filiabus Philisthinorum, quam quaeso ut mihi accipiatis uxorem"
   3 Cui dixerunt pater et mater sua: "Numquid non est mulier in filiabus fratrum tuorum et in omni populo meo, quia vis accipere uxorem de Philisthim, qui incircumcisi sunt?" Dixitque Samson ad patrem suum: "Hanc mihi accipe, quia placuit oculis meis"
   4 Parentes autem eius nesciebant quod res a Domino fieret, et quaereret occasionem contra Philisthim. Eo enim tempore Philisthim dominabantur Israeli.
   5 Descendit itaque Samson cum patre suo et matre in Thamna. Cumque venissent ad vineas oppidi, apparuit catulus leonis rugiens et occurrit ei.
   6 Irruit autem spiritus Domini in Samson, et dilaceravit leonem, quasi haedum in frusta concerperet, nihil omnino habens in manu; et hoc patri et matri noluit indicare.
   7 Descenditque et locutus est mulieri, quae placuerat oculis eius.
   8 Et post aliquot dies revertens, ut acciperet eam, declinavit, ut videret cadaver leonis; et ecce examen apum in corpore leonis erat ac favus mellis.
   9 Quem, cum sumpsisset in manibus, comedebat in via; veniensque ad patrem suum et matrem dedit eis partem, qui et ipsi comederunt. Nec tamen eis voluit indicare quod mel de corpore leonis assumpserat.
   10 Descendit itaque pater eius ad mulierem, et fecit ibi Samson convivium; sic enim iuvenes facere consuerant.
   11 Cum ergo cives loci illius vidissent eum, dederunt ei sodales triginta, qui essent cum eo.
   12 Quibus locutus est Samson: "Proponam vobis problema, quod si solveritis mihi intra septem dies convivii, dabo vobis triginta tunicas et totidem vestes mutatorias;
   13 sin autem non potueritis solvere, vos dabitis mihi triginta tunicas et eiusdem numeri vestes mutatorias" Qui responderunt ei: "Propone problema, ut audiamus"
   14 Dixitque eis: "De comedente exivit cibus, et de forti est egressa dulcedo" Nec potuerunt per tres dies propositionem solvere.
   15 Cumque adesset dies quartus, dixerunt ad uxorem Samson: "Blandire viro tuo et suade ei, ut indicet tibi quid significet problema. Quod si facere nolueris, incendemus et te et domum patris tui. An idcirco nos vocastis ad nuptias, ut spoliaretis?"
   16 Quae fundebat apud Samson lacrimas et querebatur dicens: "Odisti me et non diligis; idcirco problema, quod proposuisti filiis populi mei, non vis mihi exponere" At ille respondit: "Patri meo et matri nolui dicere et tibi indicare potero?"
   17 Septem igitur diebus convivii flebat apud eum; tandemque die septimo, cum ei molesta esset, exposuit. Quae statim indicavit civibus suis,
   18 et illi dixerunt ei die septimo ante solis occubitum: "Quid dulcius melle, et quid leone fortius?" Qui ait ad eos: "Si non arassetis in vitula mea, non invenissetis propositionem meam"
   19 Irruit itaque in eo spiritus Domini, descenditque Ascalonem et percussit ibi triginta viros, quorum ablatas vestes dedit iis, qui problema solverant; iratusque nimis ascendit in domum patris sui.
   20 Uxor autem eius accepit maritum unum de amicis eius, qui erat pronubus.

Source: Bibliorum Sacrorum Editio, Sacrosanti Oecumenici Concilii Vaticani II, Ratione Habita, Iussu Pauli PP. VI Recognita, Auctoritate Ioannis Pauli PP. II Promulgata, Editio Typica Altera

King James Version

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