Judges 16:4-20

4

Some time laterH310H3651, Samson fell in love withH157 a womanH802 in the ValleyH5158 of SorekH7796, whose nameH8034 was DelilahH1807. 5The lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 wentH5927 to herH413 and saidH559, “EnticeH6601 himH853 and find outH7200 the source ofH4100 his greatH1419 strengthH3581 and howH4100 we can overpowerH3201 him to tie him upH631 and subdue himH6031. Then each oneH376 of usH587 will giveH5414 you eleven hundredH505H3967 shekels of silverH3701.1”

6So DelilahH1807 saidH559 toH413 SamsonH8123, “PleaseH4994 tellH5046 me the sourceH4100 of your greatH1419 strengthH3581 and howH4100 you can be tied upH631 and subduedH6031.”

7SamsonH8123 told herH559H413, “IfH518 they tie me upH631 with sevenH7651 freshH3892 bowstringsH3499 thatH834 have notH3808 been driedH2717, I will become as weakH2470H1961 as anyH259 other manH120.”

8So the lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 broughtH5927 her sevenH7651 freshH3892 bowstringsH3499 thatH834 had notH3808 been driedH2717, and she tied him upH631 with them. 9While the menH693 were hiddenH3427 in her roomH2315, she called outH559, “SamsonH8123, the PhilistinesH6430 are hereH5921!”

But he snappedH5423 the bowstringsH3499 likeH834 a strandH6616 of yarnH5296 searedH5423H7306 by a flameH784. So the source of his strengthH3581 remained unknownH3808H3045.

10Then DelilahH1807 saidH559 toH413 SamsonH8123H2009, “You have mockedH2048 me and lied to meH1696H413H3577! NowH6258 pleaseH4994 tellH5046 me howH4100 you can be tied upH631.”

11He repliedH559H413, “IfH518 they tie me upH631 with newH2319 ropesH5688 thatH834 have neverH3808 been usedH6213H4399, I will become as weakH2470H1961 as anyH259 other manH120.”

12So DelilahH1807 tookH3947 newH2319 ropesH5688, tied him upH631 with them, and called outH559H413, “SamsonH8123, the Philistines areH6430 hereH5921!”

But while the menH693 were hiddenH3427 in her roomH2315, he snappedH5423 the ropes offH5921 his armsH2220 like they were threadsH2339.

13Then DelilahH1807 saidH559 toH413 SamsonH8123, “You have mockedH2048 me and lied to meH1696H413H3577 all alongH5704H2008! TellH5046 me howH4100 you can be tied upH631.”

He told herH559H413, “IfH518 you weaveH707 the sevenH7651 braidsH4253 of my headH7218 intoH5973 the web of a loomH4545 and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man.2”

14So while he slept, Delilah took the seven braids of his hair and wove them into the web. 3Then she tightened it with a pinH3489 and calledH559 to himH413, “SamsonH8123, the PhilistinesH6430 are hereH5921!”

But he awokeH3364 from his sleepH8142 and pulled outH5265 the pinH3489 with the loomH708 and the webH4545.

15“HowH349 can you sayH559H413, ‘I love youH157,’” she askedH559, “when your heartH3820 is notH369 with meH854? ThisH2088 is the thirdH7969 timeH6471 you have mockedH2048 me and failedH3808 to revealH5046 to me the sourceH4100 of your great strengthH3581H1419!”

16Finally, afterH1961 she had pressedH6693 him dailyH3605H3117 with her wordsH1697 and pleadedH509 until heH5315 was sickH7114 to deathH4191, 17Samson toldH5046 her all that wasH3605 in his heartH3820: “My hairH7218 has neverH3808 been cutH4177H5927H5921, becauseH3588 IH589 have been a NaziriteH5139 to GodH430 from my mother’sH517 wombH990. IfH518 I am shavedH1548, my strengthH3581 will leaveH5493 meH4480, and I will become as weakH2470 asH1961 anyH3605 other manH120.”

18When DelilahH1807 realizedH7200 thatH3588 he had revealedH5046 to her allH3605 that was in his heartH3820, she sentH7971H7121 this messageH559 to the lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430: “Come upH5927 once moreH6471, forH3588 he has revealedH5046 to me allH3605 that is in his heartH3820.”

Then the lordsH5633 of the PhilistinesH6430 cameH5927 to herH413, bringingH5927 the moneyH3701 in their handsH3027.

19And having lulled him to sleepH3462 onH5921 her lapH1290, she calledH7121 a manH376 to shave offH1548 the sevenH7651 braidsH4253 of his headH7218. In this way she beganH2490 to subdue himH6031,4 and his strengthH3581H5921 left himH5493. 20Then she called outH559, “SamsonH8123, the PhilistinesH6430 are hereH5921!”

When Samson awokeH3364 from his sleepH8142, he thoughtH559, “I will escapeH3318 as I did beforeH6471 and shake myself freeH5287.” But heH1931 did notH3808 knowH3045 thatH3588 the LORDH3068 had departedH5493 from himH5921.