<t /><p class="bodytext">I said,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Oh, mother, how I regret<n id="2" /> that you ever gave birth to me!p> <p class="poetry">I am always starting arguments and quarrels with the people of this land.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I have not lent money to anyone and I have not borrowed from anyone.p> <p class="poetry">Yet all of these people are treating me with contempt.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Finally he told her his secret.<n id="1" /> He said to her, &#8220;My hair has never been cut,<n id="2" /> for I have been dedicated to God<n id="3" /> from the time I was conceived.<n id="4" /> If my head<n id="5" /> were shaved, my strength would leave me; I would become weak, and be just like all other men.&#8221;

She said, &#8220;I would like to ask you for just one small favor.<n id="1" /> Please don&#8217;t refuse me.&#8221;<n id="2" /> He said,<n id="3" /> &#8220;Go ahead and ask, my mother, for I would not refuse you.&#8221;

<p class="poetry">Scarcely<n id="1" /> had I passed them byp> <p class="poetry">when I found my beloved!p> <p class="poetry">I held onto him<n id="2" /> tightly and would not let him go<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">until I brought him to my mother&#8217;s house,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">to the bedroom chamber<n id="5" /> of the one who conceived me.p>