1 And after a certain time, when the days of wheat harvest were at hand, Samson came, meaning to visit his wife, and he brought her a kid of goats. And when he would enter into her chamber as he was wont, her father prohibited him, saying:
1 And a while after, when the days of the wheat harvest were at hand, Samson came, meaning to visit his wife, and he brought her a kid of the flock. And when he would have gone into her chamber, as usual, her father would not suffer him, saying:
2 Ithought that thou hadst hated her, and therefore I delivered her to thy friend: but she hath a sister, which is younger & fairer than she, let this be thy wife in stead of her.
2 I thought thou hadst hated her, and therefore I gave her to thy friend: but she hath a sister, who is younger and fairer than she, take her to wife instead of her.
3 To whom Samson answered: From this day there shall be no fault in me against the Philisthiims: for I will do you evils.
3 And Samson answered him: From this day I shall be blameless in what I do against the Philistines: for I will do you evils.
4 And he went, and caught three hundred foxes, & he coupled them tail to tail, and tied firebrands in the midst:
4 And he went and caught three hundred foxes, and coupled them tail to tail, and fastened torches between the tails:
5 which kindling with fire, he let them go, that they might run abroad hither and thither. Who immediately went on into the corn of the Philisthiims. Which being set on fire, both the corn now carried together, and that which yet stood in the stalk, was all burnt, in so much that the flame consumed the vineyards also & the olivets.
5 And setting them on fire he let the foxes go, that they might run about hither and thither. And they presently went into the standing corn of the Philistines. Which being set on fire, both the corn that was already carried together, and that which was yet standing, was all burnt, insomuch that the flame consumed also the vineyards and the oliveyards.
6 And the Philisthiims said: Who hath done this thing? To whom it was said: Samson the son in law of the Thamnatheite: because he took his wife, and gave her to another, he hath wrought these things. And the Philisthiims went up, and burnt both the woman and her father.
6 Then the Philistines said: Who hath done this thing? And it was answered: Samson, the son-in-law of the Thamnathite, because he took away his wife, and gave her to another, hath done these things. And the Philistines went up and burnt both the woman and her father.
7 To whom Samson said: Although you have done these things, not withstanding yet will I require revenge of you, & then I will rest.
7 But Samson said to them: Although you have done this, yet will I be revenged of you, and then I will be quiet.
8 And he struck them with a great plague, so that astonished they laid the calf of the leg upon the thigh. And going down he dwelt in the cave of the rock Etam.
8 And he made a great slaughter of them, so that in astonishment they laid the calf of the leg upon the thigh. And going down he dwelt in a cavern of the rock Etam.
9 Therefore the Philisthiims going up into the Land of Juda camped in the place, which afterward was called Lechi, that is, the jaw bone, where their army was spread abroad.
9 Then the Philistines going up into the land of Juda, camped in the place which afterwards was called Lechi, that is, the Jawbone, where their army was spread abroad.
10 And they of the tribe of Juda said to them: Why are you come up against us? Who answered: That we may bind Samson, we are come, & may repay him the things that he hath wrought against us.
10 And the men of the tribe of Juda said to them: Why are you come up against us? They answered: We are come to bind Samson, and to pay him for what he hath done against us.
11 There went down therefore three thousand men of Juda, to the cave of the flint Etam, & said to Samson: knowest not thou that the Philistiims reign over us? Why wouldst thou do this thing? To whom he said. As they did to me so have I done to them.
11 Wherefore three thousand men of Juda went down to the cave of the rock Etam, and said to Samson: Knowest thou not that the Philistines rule over us? Why wouldst thou do thus? And he said to them: As they did to me, so have I done to them.
12 To bind thee, quoth they, we are come, and to deliver thee into the hands of the Philisthiims. To whom Samson: Swear, quoth he, and promised me that you kill me not.
12 And they said to him: We are come to bind thee, and to deliver thee into the hands of the Philistines. And Samson said to them: Swear to me, and promise me that you will not kill me.
13 They said: We will not kill thee, but will deliver thee bound. And they bound him with two new cords, and took him from the rock Etam.
13 They said: We will not kill thee: but we will deliver thee up bound. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him from the rock Etam.
14 Who when he was come to the place of the Jaw-bone and the Philisthiims shouting were come against him, the Spirit of our Lord fell upon him: and as flax is wont to be consumed at the savour of fire, so the bands wherewith he was bound were dissipated and loosed.
14 Now when he was come to the place of the Jawbone, and the Philistines shouting went to meet him, the Spirit of the Lord came strongly upon him: and as flax is wont to be consumed at the approach of fire, so the bands with which he was bound were broken and loosed.
15 And finding a jaw bone, to wit, the jaw bone of an ass, which lay there, catching it he slew therewith a thousand men,
15 And finding a jawbone, even the jawbone of an ass, which lay there, catching it up, he slew therewith a thousand men.
16 and said: In the jaw bone of an ass, in the jaw of the colt of the asses have I destroyed them, and have struck a thousand men.
16 And he said: With the jawbone of an ass, with the jaw of the colt of asses, I have destroyed them, and have slain a thousand men.
17 And when he had ended these words singing, he threw the jaw bone out of his hand, and called the name of that place Ramathlechi, which is interpreted the lifting up of the jaw-bone.
17 And when he had ended these words, singing, he threw the jawbone out of his hand, and called the name of that place Ramathlechi, which is interpreted the lifting up of the jawbone.
18 And being very thirsty he cried to our Lord, & said: Thou hast given in the hand of thy servant this very great salvation and victory: and behold I die for thirst, and shall fall into the hands of the uncircumcised.
18 And being very thirsty, he cried to the Lord, and said: Thou hast given this very great deliverance and victory into the hand of thy servant: and behold I die for thirst, and shall fall into the hands of the uncircumcised.
19 Our Lord therefore opened a great tooth in the jaw of the ass, & there issued out of it waters. Which being drunk, he refreshed his spirit, & received strength again. Therefore the name of that place was called: The fountain of him that invocated from the jawbone, until this present day.
19 Then the Lord opened a great tooth in the jaw of the ass and waters issued out of it. And when he had drunk them, he refreshed his spirit, and recovered his strength. Therefore the name of that place was called The Spring of him that invoked from the jawbone, until this present day.
20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philisthiims twenty years.
20 And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.¹