With Yahweh's hand forever on his shoulder
he sought among the conquerors for a bride ;
the strength within him made him ever bolder
to bring to nothing all their arrogant pride.

At height and heat of noon he met and slew
the mightiest of beasts , all tawny gold ,
And from its strength another strength he drew
the sweetness of the honey its corpse would hold.

A riddle for the thirty groomsmen set
led to betrayal by his alien bride .
His fiery vengeance was the fate they met:
Their summer crops a harvesting denied .

But finally there came another gate
where the darkness of the night betrays the sun:
D lillah spread her thighs and sealed his fate
to labour in the mill , his strength undone .

No jawbone of an ass to use as blade ;
chained to the pillars in shameful degradation,
There in the temple his final choice was made
to bring to death the noblest of a nation.

From gates of dawn through noonday's heavy heat
the sun has passed with slowly fading light
to the gates of evening with his task complete
he sinks into the void of death and night .