1 S amson went down to Timnah. There he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines.

Desceu Sansão a Timnate; e vendo em Timnate uma mulher das filhas dos filisteus,

2 H e returned and told his father and mother, “I saw a woman in Timnah. She is one of the daughters of the Philistines. Now get her for me as a wife.”

subiu, e declarou-o a seu pai e a sua mãe, dizendo: Vi uma mulher em Timnate, das filhas dos filisteus; agora pois, tomai-ma por mulher.

3 B ut his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your family or among all our people? Must you take a wife from the Philistines who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews?” Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she looks good to me.”

Responderam-lhe, porém, seu pai e sua mãe: Não há, porventura, mulher entre as filhas de teus irmãos, nem entre todo o nosso povo, para que tu vás tomar mulher dos filisteus, daqueles incircuncisos? Disse, porém, Sansão a seu pai: Toma esta para mim, porque ela muito me agrada.

4 H is father and mother did not know that it was the Lord’s leading. For He was planning a way to go against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

Mas seu pai e sua mãe não sabiam que isto vinha do Senhor, que buscava ocasião contra os filisteus; porquanto naquele tempo os filisteus dominavam sobre Israel.

5 S amson went down to Timnah with his father and mother. They came as far as the grape-fields of Timnah. There a young lion came running toward him, making a loud noise.

Desceu, pois, Sansão com seu pai e com sua mãe a Timnate. E, chegando ele

6 T he Spirit of the Lord came upon Samson with power. Samson tore the lion apart like one tears a young goat. He had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

Então o Espírito do Senhor se apossou dele, de modo que ele, sem ter coisa alguma na mão, despedaçou o leão como se fosse um cabrito. E não disse nem a seu pai nem a sua mãe o que tinha feito.

7 T hen Samson went down and talked to the woman. She looked good to him.

Depois desceu e falou

8 W hen he returned later to take her, he turned to look at the dead lion. He saw that a lot of bees and some honey were inside the lion’s body.

Passado algum tempo, Sansão voltou para recebê-la; e apartando-se de caminho para ver o cadáver do leão, eis que nele havia um enxame de abelhas, e mel.

9 S o he took the honey out with his hands and went on his way, eating as he went. He came to his father and mother and gave some honey to them, and they ate it. But he did not tell them he had taken the honey out of the lion’s body.

E tirando-o nas mãos, foi andando e comendo dele; chegando aonde estavam seu pai e sua mãe, deu-lhes do mel, e eles comeram; porém não lhes disse que havia tirado o mel do corpo do leão.

10 T hen his father went down to the woman. Samson made a special supper there. The young men used to do this.

Desceu, pois, seu pai ã casa da mulher; e Sansão fez ali um banquete, porque assim os mancebos costumavam fazer.

11 W hen the people saw him, they brought thirty friends to be with him.

E sucedeu que, quando os habitantes do lugar o viram, trouxeram trinta companheiros para estarem com ele.

12 A nd Samson said to them, “Let me see if you can answer this question. If you can find the answer within the seven days of the special supper, I will give you thirty linen coats and thirty pieces of clothing.

Disse-lhes, pois, Sansão: Permiti-me propor-vos um enigma; se nos sete dias das bodas o decifrardes e mo descobrirdes, eu vos darei trinta túnicas de linho e trinta mantos;

13 B ut if you cannot answer me, you must give me thirty linen coats and thirty pieces of clothing.” And they said to him, “Ask your question. Let us hear it.”

mas se não puderdes decifrar, vós me dareis a mim as trinta túnicas de linho e os trinta mantos. Ao que lhe responderam eles: Propõe o teu enigma, para que o ouçamos.

14 S o Samson said to them, “Out of the eater came something to eat. Out of the strong came something sweet. Now what does this mean?” But they could not answer the question in three days.

Então lhes disse: Do que come saiu comida, e do forte saiu doçura. E em três dias não puderam decifrar o enigma.

15 O n the fourth day they said to Samson’s wife, “Make your husband tell us the answer. Or we will burn you and your father’s house with fire. Have you asked us to come here so you can make us poor? Is it not true?”

Ao quarto dia, pois, disseram ã mulher de Sansão: Persuade teu marido a que declare o enigma, para que não queimemos a fogo a ti e ã casa de teu pai. Acaso nos convidastes para nos despojardes?

16 S o Samson’s wife cried in front of Samson, saying, “You only hate me. You do not love me. You have asked my people a question. And you have not told me the answer.” Samson said to her, “See, I have not told the answer to my father or mother. Should I tell it to you?”

E a mulher de Sansão chorou diante dele, e disse: Tão-somente me aborreces, e não me amas; pois propuseste aos filhos do meu povo um enigma, e não mo declaraste a mim. Respondeu-lhe ele: Eis que nem a meu pai nem a minha mãe o declarei, e to declararei a ti.

17 B ut she cried in front of him for seven days while their special supper lasted. On the seventh day Samson told her the answer because she begged him so much. Then she told the answer to her people.

Assim ela chorava diante dele os sete dias em que celebravam as bodas. Sucedeu, pois, que ao sétimo dia lho declarou, porquanto o importunava; então ela declarou o enigma aos filhos do seu povo.

18 S o the men of the city said to Samson before the sun went down on the seventh day, “What is more sweet than honey? What is stronger than a lion?” Samson said to them, “If you had not plowed with my young cow, you would not have found the answer.”

Os homens da cidade, pois, ainda no sétimo dia, antes de se pôr o sol, disseram a Sansão: Que coisa há mais doce do que o mel? e que coisa há mais forte do que o leão? Respondeu-lhes ele: Se vós não tivésseis lavrado com a minha novilha, não teríeis descoberto o meu enigma.

19 T hen the Spirit of the Lord came upon him with power. Samson went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty men of the town. He took their clothing and gave it to the men who answered his question. He was very angry and returned to his father’s house.

Então o Espírito do Senhor se apossou dele, de modo que desceu a Asquelom, matou trinta dos seus homens e, tomando as suas vestes, deu-as aos que declararam o enigma; e, ardendo em ira, subiu ã casa de seu pai.

20 S amson’s wife was given to his friend who had been his best man at his wedding.

E a mulher de Sansão foi dada ao seu companheiro, que lhe servira de paraninfo.: