Judges 9:15

9:15 The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to choose ¹  me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! ²  Otherwise ³  may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’

Judges 14:12

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, ⁴  I will give you thirty linen robes and thirty sets ⁵  of clothes.

Judges 15:2

15:2 Her father said, “I really thought ⁶  you absolutely despised ⁷  her, so I gave her to your best man. Her younger sister is more attractive than she is. Take her instead!” ⁸ 

Judges 16:25

16:25 When they really started celebrating, ⁹  they said, “Call for Samson so he can entertain us!” So they summoned Samson from the prison and he entertained them. ¹⁰  They made him stand between two pillars.

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¹ tn Heb “are about to anoint [with oil].”

² tn Heb “in my shade.”

³ tn Heb “If not.”

⁴ tn Heb “If you really can tell it to me [during] the seven days of the feast and you find [its answer].”

⁵ tn Heb “changes.”

⁶ tn Heb “saying, I said.” The first person form of אָמַר (’amar, “to say”) sometimes indicates self-reflection. The girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

⁷ tn Heb “hating, you hated.” Once again the girl’s father uses the infinitive absolute for emphasis.

⁸ tn Heb “Is her younger sister not better than her? Let her [i.e., the younger sister] be yours instead of her [i.e., Samson’s ‘bride’]).”

⁹ tn Heb “When their heart was good.”

¹⁰ tn Heb “before them.”