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17 She wept before him for the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because (A)she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?
What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not ploughed with my heifer,
you would not have found out my riddle.”

19 (B)And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to (C)Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had explained the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house.

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17 She cried the whole seven days(A) of the feast. So on the seventh day he finally told her, because she continued to press him. She in turn explained the riddle to her people.

18 Before sunset on the seventh day the men of the town said to him,

“What is sweeter than honey?
    What is stronger than a lion?”(B)

Samson said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
    you would not have solved my riddle.”

19 Then the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.(C) He went down to Ashkelon,(D) struck down thirty of their men, stripped them of everything and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger,(E) he returned to his father’s home.

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