Judges 16:4-20

4After this it came about that he was in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5So the 1governors of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “2Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and 3how we can overpower him so that we may bind him to humble him. Then we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and 4how you can be bound to humble you.” 7And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh 5animal tendons that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” 8Then the governors of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh 6animal tendons that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9Now she had men prepared for an ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he tore the tendons to pieces just like a thread of flax is torn apart when it 7comes too close to fire. So his strength was not discovered.

10Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have toyed with me and told me lies; now please tell me 8how you may be bound.” 11Then he said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes 9which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” 12So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” For the men in the ambush were waiting in the inner room. But he tore 10the ropes from his arms like thread.

13Then Delilah said to Samson, “Up to now you have toyed with me and told me lies; tell me 11how you may be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my 12hair with the 13web 14[and fasten it with the pin, then I will be weak like any other man.” 14So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven locks of his 15hair with the web]. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web.

15Then she said to him, “16How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have toyed with me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” 16And it came about, when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was 17annoyed to death. 17So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a 18Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”

18When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent word and called the governors of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart.” Then the governors of the Philistines came up to her and brought up the money in their hands. 19And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to humble him, and his strength left him. 20She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that 19the Lord had departed from him.