Judges 14:12–18
14:12 Samson said to them, “I will give you a riddle. If you really can solve it during the seven days the party lasts,25 I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets26 of clothes. 14:13 But if you cannot solve it,27 you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes.” They said to him, “Let us hear your riddle.”28 14:14 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.
14:15 On the fourth29 day they said to Samson’s bride, “Trick your husband into giving the solution to the riddle.30 If you refuse,31 we will burn up32 you and your father’s family.33 Did you invite us here34 to make us poor?”35 14:16 So Samson’s bride cried on his shoulder36 and said, “You must37 hate me; you do not love me! You told the young men38 a riddle, but you have not told me the solution.” He said to her, “Look, I have not even told my father or mother. Do you really expect me to tell you?”39 14:17 She cried on his shoulder40 until the party was almost over.41 Finally, on the seventh day, he told her because she had nagged him so much.42 Then she told the young men the solution to the riddle.43 14:18 On the seventh day, before the sun set, the men of the city said to him,
“What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?”
He said to them,
“If you had not plowed with my heifer,44
you would not have solved my riddle!”