¹ Post aliquantulum autem temporis, cum dies triticeæ messis instarent, venit Samson, invisere volens uxorem suam, et attulit ei hædum de capris. Cumque cubiculum ejus solito vellet intrare, prohibuit eum pater illius, dicens :

² Putavi quod odisses eam, et ideo tradidi illam amico tuo : sed habet sororem, quæ junior et pulchrior illa est : sit tibi pro ea uxor.

³ Cui Samson respondit : Ab hac die non erit culpa in me contra Philisthæos : faciam enim vobis mala.

⁴ Perrexitque et cepit trecentas vulpes, caudasque earum junxit ad caudas, et faces ligavit in medio :

⁵ quas igne succendens, dimisit ut huc illucque discurrerent. Quæ statim perrexerunt in segetes Philisthinorum. Quibus succensis, et comportatæ jam fruges, et adhuc stantes in stipula, concrematæ sunt, in tantum ut vineas quoque et oliveta flamma consumeret.

⁶ Dixeruntque Philisthiim : Quis fecit hanc rem ? Quibus dictum est : Samson gener Thamnathæi : quia tulit uxorem ejus, et alteri tradidit, hæc operatus est. Ascenderuntque Philisthiim, et combusserunt tam mulierem quam patrem ejus.

⁷ Quibus ait Samson : Licet hæc feceritis, tamen adhuc ex vobis expetam ultionem, et tunc quiescam.

⁸ Percussitque eos ingenti plaga, ita ut stupentes suram femori imponerent. Et descendens habitavit in spelunca petræ Etam.

⁹ Igitur ascendentes Philisthiim in terram Juda, castrametati sunt in loco, qui postea vocatus est Lechi, id est, Maxilla, ubi eorum effusus est exercitus.

¹⁰ Dixeruntque ad eos de tribu Juda : Cur ascendistis adversum nos ? Qui responderunt : Ut ligemus Samson venimus, et reddamus ei quæ in nos operatus est.

¹¹ Descenderunt ergo tria millia virorum de Juda ad specum silicis Etam, dixeruntque ad Samson : Nescis quod Philisthiim imperent nobis ? quare hoc facere voluisti ? Quibus ille ait : Sicut fecerunt mihi, sic feci eis.

¹² Ligare, inquiunt, te venimus, et tradere in manus Philisthinorum. Quibus Samson : Jurate, ait, et spondete mihi quod non occidatis me.

¹³ Dixerunt : Non te occidemus, sed vinctum trademus. Ligaveruntque eum duobus novis funibus, et tulerunt eum de petra Etam.

¹⁴ Qui cum venisset ad locum Maxillæ, et Philisthiim vociferantes occurrissent ei, irruit spiritus Domini in eum : et sicut solent ad odorem ignis lina consumi, ita vincula quibus ligatus erat, dissipata sunt et soluta.

¹⁵ Inventamque maxillam, id est, mandibulam asini, quæ jacebat, arripiens interfecit in ea mille viros,

¹⁶ et ait : In maxilla asini, in mandibula pulli asinarum delevi eos, et percussi mille viros.

¹⁷ Cumque hæc verba canens complesset, projecit mandibulam de manu, et vocavit nomen loci illius Ramathlechi, quod interpretatur, Elevatio maxillæ.

¹⁸ Sitiensque valde, clamavit ad Dominum, et ait : Tu dedisti in manu servi tui salutem hanc maximam atque victoriam : en siti morior, incidamque in manus incircumcisorum.

¹⁹ Aperuit itaque Dominus molarem dentem in maxilla asini, et egressæ sunt ex eo aquæ. Quibus haustis, refocillavit spiritum, et vires recepit. Idcirco appellatum est nomen loci illius, Fons invocantis de maxilla, usque in præsentem diem.

²⁰ Judicavitque Israël in diebus Philisthiim viginti annis.

¹ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,

² "Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him."

³ When King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ would be born.

⁵ They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is written through the prophet,

⁶ 'You Bethlehem, land of Judah, are in no way least among the princes of Judah: for out of you shall come forth a governor, who shall shepherd my people, Israel.'"

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.

⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, "Go and search diligently for the young child. When you have found him, bring me word, so that I also may come and worship him."

⁹ They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.

¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.