1 One|strong="H0802" day Samson|strong="H8123" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" city of|strong="H0802" Gaza|strong="H5804". He|strong="H8033" saw|strong="H7200" a|strong="H7200" prostitute|strong="H2181" there|strong="H8033" and|strong="H0935" went|strong="H0935" in|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" stay the|strong="H0413" night with|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413".
2 Someone told|strong="H0559" the|strong="H3605" people of|strong="H8179" Gaza, “Samson|strong="H8123" has|strong="H3605" come|strong="H0935" here|strong="H2008".” They|strong="H5704" wanted to|strong="H0559" kill|strong="H2026" him|strong="H0935", so|strong="H0935" they|strong="H5704" surrounded|strong="H5437" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892". They|strong="H5704" hid near|strong="H2008" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" gate|strong="H8179" and|strong="H0935" waited|strong="H0693" all|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915" for|strong="H3605" him|strong="H0935". They|strong="H5704" were|strong="H8179" very|strong="H5704" quiet all|strong="H3605" night|strong="H3915" long|strong="H5704". They|strong="H5704" had|strong="H0935" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" each|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605", “When|strong="H0935" morning|strong="H1242" comes|strong="H0935", we|strong="H5704" will|strong="H5704" kill|strong="H2026" Samson|strong="H8123".”
3 But|strong="H0834" Samson|strong="H8123" only|strong="H5704" stayed|strong="H7901" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H6440" prostitute until|strong="H5704" midnight. Then|strong="H6965" he|strong="H0834" got|strong="H6965" up|strong="H5927" and|strong="H6965" grabbed the|strong="H6440" doors|strong="H1817" of|strong="H2022" the|strong="H6440" city|strong="H5892" gate|strong="H8179" and|strong="H6965" pulled|strong="H5265" them|strong="H0413" loose|strong="H5921" from|strong="H5265" the|strong="H6440" wall. He|strong="H0834" pulled|strong="H5265" down|strong="H7901" the|strong="H6440" doors|strong="H1817", the|strong="H6440" two|strong="H8147" posts|strong="H4201", and|strong="H6965" the|strong="H6440" bars|strong="H1280" that|strong="H0834" lock the|strong="H6440" doors|strong="H1817" shut. He|strong="H0834" put|strong="H7760" them|strong="H0413" on|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" shoulders|strong="H3802" and|strong="H6965" carried|strong="H5927" them|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H6440" top|strong="H7218" of|strong="H2022" the|strong="H6440" hill|strong="H2022" near|strong="H5973" the|strong="H6440" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H2022" Hebron|strong="H2275".
4 Later|strong="H0310", Samson fell|strong="H1961" in|strong="H0802" love|strong="H0157" with|strong="H0802" a|strong="H1961" woman|strong="H0802" named|strong="H8034" Delilah|strong="H1807", who|strong="H0802" was|strong="H8034" from|strong="H1961" Sorek Valley|strong="H5158".
5 The|strong="H0853" rulers of|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" went|strong="H5927" to|strong="H0413" Delilah and|strong="H3967" said|strong="H0559", “We|strong="H0587" want to|strong="H0413" know what|strong="H4100" makes|strong="H5414" Samson so|strong="H5414" strong|strong="H3581". Try to|strong="H0413" trick him|strong="H0413" into|strong="H0413" telling|strong="H0559" you|strong="H5414" his|strong="H5414" secret. Then|strong="H0853" we|strong="H0587" will|strong="H0376" know how|strong="H4100" to|strong="H0413" capture him|strong="H0413" and|strong="H3967" tie|strong="H0631" him|strong="H0413" up|strong="H5927". Then|strong="H0853" we|strong="H0587" will|strong="H0376" be|strong="H0376" able|strong="H3201" to|strong="H0413" control him|strong="H0413". If|strong="H0376" you|strong="H5414" do|strong="H4100" this|strong="H0376", each|strong="H0376" one|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" us|strong="H5414" will|strong="H0376" give|strong="H5414" you|strong="H5414" 28 pounds of|strong="H0376" silver|strong="H3701".”
6 So|strong="H4994" Delilah|strong="H1807" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samson|strong="H8123", “Tell|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" why|strong="H4100" you|strong="H5046" are|strong="H4100" so|strong="H4994" strong|strong="H3581". How|strong="H4100" could|strong="H4100" someone tie|strong="H0631" you|strong="H5046" up|strong="H0413" and|strong="H1419" make|strong="H5046" you|strong="H5046" helpless|strong="H3581"?”
7 Samson|strong="H8123" answered|strong="H0559", “Someone|strong="H0120" would|strong="H0559" have|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" tie|strong="H0631" me|strong="H0413" up|strong="H1961" with|strong="H0413" seven|strong="H7651" fresh|strong="H3892", new bowstrings|strong="H3499". If|strong="H0518" someone|strong="H0120" did|strong="H0834" that|strong="H0834", I|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0559" be|strong="H1961" as|strong="H0834" weak|strong="H3808" as|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0259" other|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0120".”
8 Then|strong="H5927" the|strong="H0834" rulers of|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0834" Philistines|strong="H6430" brought|strong="H5927" seven|strong="H7651" fresh|strong="H3892", new bowstrings|strong="H3499" to|strong="H5927" Delilah, and|strong="H6430" she|strong="H0834" tied|strong="H0631" Samson with|strong="H5927" the|strong="H0834" bowstrings|strong="H3499".
9 Some men|strong="H0559" were|strong="H0834" hiding in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" next|strong="H5921" room|strong="H2315". Delilah said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samson|strong="H8123", “Samson|strong="H8123", the|strong="H0853" Philistine|strong="H6430" men|strong="H0559" are|strong="H0834" going to|strong="H0413" capture you|strong="H0834"!” But|strong="H3808" Samson|strong="H8123" easily broke|strong="H5423" the|strong="H0853" bowstrings|strong="H3499". They|strong="H0834" snapped|strong="H5423" like|strong="H0834" a|strong="H0834" string|strong="H6616" when|strong="H0834" it|strong="H5921" comes too|strong="H5921" close to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H0834" flame|strong="H0784". So|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" Philistines|strong="H6430" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" find|strong="H3045" out|strong="H3045" the|strong="H0853" secret of|strong="H3427" Samson’s|strong="H8123" strength|strong="H3581".
10 Then|strong="H1696" Delilah|strong="H1807" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samson|strong="H8123", “You|strong="H5046" lied|strong="H3576" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413". You|strong="H5046" made|strong="H1696" me|strong="H0413" look|strong="H2009" foolish. Please|strong="H4994" tell|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" truth. How|strong="H4100" could|strong="H4100" someone tie|strong="H0631" you|strong="H5046" up|strong="H0413"?”
11 Samson said|strong="H0559", “Someone|strong="H0120" would|strong="H0559" have|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" tie|strong="H0631" me|strong="H0413" up|strong="H1961" with|strong="H0413" new|strong="H2319" ropes|strong="H5688". They|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0559" have|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" tie|strong="H0631" me|strong="H0413" with|strong="H0413" ropes|strong="H5688" that|strong="H0834" have|strong="H1961" not|strong="H3808" been|strong="H1961" used|strong="H1961" before|strong="H0413". If|strong="H0518" someone|strong="H0120" did|strong="H6213" that|strong="H0834", I|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0559" become|strong="H1961" as|strong="H0834" weak|strong="H3808" as|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0259" other|strong="H0259" man|strong="H0120".”
12 So|strong="H3947" Delilah|strong="H1807" took|strong="H3947" some new|strong="H2319" ropes|strong="H5688" and|strong="H6430" tied|strong="H0631" up|strong="H5921" Samson|strong="H8123". Some men|strong="H3947" were|strong="H6430" hiding in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0559" next|strong="H5921" room|strong="H2315". Then|strong="H3947" Delilah|strong="H1807" called|strong="H0559" out|strong="H5921" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Samson|strong="H8123", the|strong="H0559" Philistine|strong="H6430" men|strong="H3947" are|strong="H6430" going to|strong="H0413" capture|strong="H3947" you|strong="H5921"!” But|strong="H3947" he|strong="H5921" broke|strong="H5423" the|strong="H0559" ropes|strong="H5688" easily as|strong="H3427" if they|strong="H5921" were|strong="H6430" threads.
13 Then|strong="H1696" Delilah|strong="H1807" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samson|strong="H8123", “You|strong="H0518" lied|strong="H3576" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" again|strong="H1696". You|strong="H0518" made|strong="H1696" me|strong="H0413" look foolish. Now|strong="H2008", tell|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" how|strong="H4100" someone could|strong="H4100" tie|strong="H0631" you|strong="H0518" up|strong="H5704".”
14 Later, Samson|strong="H8123" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" sleep|strong="H8142", so|strong="H5921" Delilah used the|strong="H0559" loom|strong="H0708" to|strong="H0413" weave the|strong="H0559" seven braids of|strong="H5921" hair on|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" head. Then|strong="H0559" Delilah fastened|strong="H8628" the|strong="H0559" loom|strong="H0708" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" ground with|strong="H0854" a|strong="H5921" tent|strong="H3489" peg|strong="H3489". Again she called|strong="H0559" out|strong="H5265" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Samson|strong="H8123", the|strong="H0559" Philistine|strong="H6430" men|strong="H0559" are|strong="H6430" going to|strong="H0413" capture you|strong="H5921"!” Samson|strong="H8123" pulled|strong="H5265" up|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0559" tent|strong="H3489" peg|strong="H3489", the|strong="H0559" loom|strong="H0708", and|strong="H6430" the|strong="H0559" shuttle|strong="H0708".
15 Then|strong="H2088" Delilah said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Samson, “How|strong="H4100" can|strong="H4100" you|strong="H5046" say|strong="H0559", ‘I|strong="H2088" love|strong="H0157" you|strong="H5046",’ when|strong="H0559" you|strong="H5046" don’t|strong="H3808" even|strong="H3808" trust me|strong="H0413"? You|strong="H5046" refuse|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" tell|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" your|strong="H0157" secret. This|strong="H2088" is|strong="H0369" the|strong="H0559" third|strong="H7969" time|strong="H6471" you|strong="H5046" made|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" look foolish. You|strong="H5046" haven’t|strong="H3808" told|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" secret of|strong="H3820" your|strong="H0157" great|strong="H1419" strength|strong="H3581".”
16 She|strong="H3588" kept bothering Samson day|strong="H3117" after|strong="H1961" day|strong="H3117". He|strong="H3588" got so|strong="H1961" tired of|strong="H3117" her|strong="H3605" asking him|strong="H4191" about|strong="H1961" his|strong="H3605" secret that|strong="H3588" he|strong="H3588" felt like|strong="H1961" he|strong="H3588" was|strong="H1961" going to|strong="H4191" die|strong="H4191".
17 Finally, Samson told|strong="H5046" Delilah everything|strong="H3605". He|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H0589" have|strong="H1961" never|strong="H3808" had|strong="H1961" my|strong="H3605" hair|strong="H7218" cut|strong="H1548". I|strong="H0589" was|strong="H1961" dedicated|strong="H5139" to|strong="H0559" God|strong="H0430" before|strong="H4480" I|strong="H0589" was|strong="H1961" born|strong="H3808". If|strong="H0518" someone|strong="H0120" shaved|strong="H1548" my|strong="H3605" head|strong="H7218", I|strong="H0589" would|strong="H0559" lose my|strong="H3605" strength|strong="H3581". I|strong="H0589" would|strong="H0559" become|strong="H1961" as|strong="H1961" weak|strong="H3808" as|strong="H1961" any|strong="H3605" other|strong="H3605" man|strong="H0120".”
18 Delilah|strong="H1807" saw|strong="H7200" that|strong="H3588" Samson had|strong="H3588" told|strong="H5046" her|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" secret. She|strong="H3588" sent|strong="H7971" a|strong="H3588" message to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" rulers of|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" Philistines|strong="H6430". She|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", “Come|strong="H5927" back|strong="H5927" again|strong="H7971". Samson has|strong="H3820" told|strong="H5046" me|strong="H0413" everything|strong="H3605".” So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H3605" rulers of|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" Philistines|strong="H6430" came|strong="H5927" back|strong="H5927" and|strong="H3027" brought|strong="H5927" the|strong="H3605" money|strong="H3701" that|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" had|strong="H3588" promised|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H5046" her|strong="H3605".
19 Delilah got Samson to|strong="H5921" go|strong="H2490" to|strong="H5921" sleep|strong="H3462" with|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" head|strong="H7218" lying in|strong="H5921" her|strong="H5921" lap|strong="H1290". Then|strong="H0853" she|strong="H7121" called|strong="H7121" in|strong="H5921" a|strong="H7121" man|strong="H0376" to|strong="H5921" shave|strong="H1548" off|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" seven|strong="H7651" braids|strong="H4253" of|strong="H0376" Samson’s hair|strong="H7218". In|strong="H5921" this|strong="H0376" way|strong="H5921" she|strong="H7121" made|strong="H7121" Samson weak, and|strong="H0376" his|strong="H5921" strength|strong="H3581" left|strong="H5493" him|strong="H5921".
20 Then|strong="H3318" Delilah called|strong="H0559" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H5921", “Samson|strong="H8123", the|strong="H0559" Philistine|strong="H6430" men|strong="H0559" are|strong="H3068" going|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0559" capture you|strong="H3588"!” He|strong="H1931" woke|strong="H3364" up|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3068" thought|strong="H0559", “I|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3068" escape|strong="H3318" as|strong="H3068" I|strong="H3588" did|strong="H3808" before|strong="H5921" and|strong="H3068" free|strong="H3318" myself|strong="H3045".” But|strong="H3588" Samson|strong="H8123" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" know|strong="H3045" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" had|strong="H3068" left|strong="H3318" him|strong="H5921".
21 The|strong="H0853" Philistine|strong="H6430" men captured|strong="H0270" Samson. They|strong="H5178" tore out|strong="H0853" his|strong="H1961" eyes|strong="H5869" and|strong="H1004" took|strong="H0853" him|strong="H0853" down|strong="H3381" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H1004" Gaza|strong="H5804". Then|strong="H1961" they|strong="H5178" put|strong="H3381" chains|strong="H5178" on|strong="H1961" him|strong="H0853" to|strong="H1961" keep him|strong="H0853" from|strong="H3381" running|strong="H1961" away. They|strong="H5178" put|strong="H3381" him|strong="H0853" in|strong="H1004" prison|strong="H1004" and|strong="H1004" made|strong="H1961" him|strong="H0853" work grinding|strong="H2912" grain.
22 But|strong="H0834" his|strong="H0834" hair|strong="H8181" began|strong="H2490" to|strong="H0834" grow|strong="H6779" again|strong="H6779".
23 The|strong="H0853" Philistine|strong="H6430" rulers|strong="H0430" came|strong="H0559" together|strong="H0622" to|strong="H0559" celebrate. They|strong="H0559" were|strong="H6430" going to|strong="H0559" offer|strong="H2076" a|strong="H5414" great|strong="H1419" sacrifice|strong="H2077" to|strong="H0559" their|strong="H5414" god|strong="H0430" Dagon|strong="H1712". They|strong="H0559" said|strong="H0559", “Our|strong="H5414" god|strong="H0430" helped|strong="H3027" us|strong="H5414" defeat|strong="H5414" Samson|strong="H8123" our|strong="H5414" enemy|strong="H0341".”
24 When|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" Philistines saw|strong="H7200" Samson, they|strong="H0834" praised|strong="H1984" their|strong="H5414" god|strong="H0430". They|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559",
25 The|strong="H0853" people|strong="H3820" were|strong="H1961" having|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" good|strong="H2896" time|strong="H1961" at|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" celebration. So|strong="H7121" they|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559", “Bring|strong="H1961" Samson|strong="H8123" out|strong="H6440". We|strong="H3588" want to|strong="H0559" make|strong="H6711" fun of|strong="H1004" him|strong="H0853".” So|strong="H7121" they|strong="H3588" brought|strong="H1961" Samson|strong="H8123" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H0853" prison|strong="H1004" and|strong="H1004" made|strong="H1961" fun of|strong="H1004" him|strong="H0853". They|strong="H3588" made|strong="H1961" him|strong="H0853" stand|strong="H5975" between|strong="H0996" the|strong="H0853" columns|strong="H5982" in|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" temple|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" god|strong="H0559" Dagon.
26 A|strong="H0834" servant|strong="H5288" was|strong="H0834" holding|strong="H2388" his|strong="H5921" hand|strong="H3027". Samson|strong="H8123" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413", “Put|strong="H3240" me|strong="H0413" where|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0834" can|strong="H0834" feel|strong="H3559" the|strong="H0853" columns|strong="H5982" that|strong="H0834" hold|strong="H2388" this|strong="H0834" temple|strong="H1004" up|strong="H5921". I|strong="H0834" want to|strong="H0413" lean|strong="H8172" against|strong="H5921" them|strong="H0413".”
27 The|strong="H3605" temple|strong="H1004" was|strong="H0376" crowded with|strong="H4390" men|strong="H0376" and|strong="H1004" women|strong="H0802". All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Philistine|strong="H6430" rulers were|strong="H0376" there|strong="H8033". There|strong="H8033" were|strong="H0376" about|strong="H5921" 3000 men|strong="H0376" and|strong="H1004" women|strong="H0802" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" roof|strong="H1406" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" temple|strong="H1004". They|strong="H8033" were|strong="H0376" laughing and|strong="H1004" making|strong="H3605" fun of|strong="H1004" Samson|strong="H8123".
28 Then|strong="H2088" Samson|strong="H8123" said|strong="H0559" a|strong="H7121" prayer to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068", “Lord|strong="H3068" GOD|strong="H0430", remember|strong="H2142" me|strong="H0413". God|strong="H0430", please|strong="H4994" give|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" strength|strong="H2388" one|strong="H0259" more|strong="H6471" time|strong="H6471". Let|strong="H4994" me|strong="H0413" do|strong="H4994" this|strong="H2088" one|strong="H0259" thing|strong="H2088" to|strong="H0413" punish these|strong="H2088" Philistines|strong="H6430" for|strong="H7121" tearing out|strong="H2388" both|strong="H8147" of|strong="H0430" my|strong="H3068" eyes|strong="H5869"!”
29 Then|strong="H0853" Samson|strong="H8123" took|strong="H0853" hold|strong="H1004" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" two|strong="H8147" columns|strong="H5982" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" center|strong="H8432" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" temple|strong="H1004" that|strong="H0834" supported|strong="H3943" the|strong="H0853" whole temple|strong="H1004". He|strong="H0834" braced|strong="H5564" himself|strong="H8432" between|strong="H8432" the|strong="H0853" two|strong="H8147" columns|strong="H5982". One|strong="H0259" column|strong="H5982" was|strong="H0834" at|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" right|strong="H3225" side|strong="H3225" and|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" other|strong="H0259" at|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" left|strong="H8040" side|strong="H3225".
30 Samson|strong="H8123" said|strong="H0559", “Let|strong="H1961" me|strong="H5315" die|strong="H4191" with|strong="H5973" these|strong="H3605" Philistines|strong="H6430"!” Then|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" pushed as|strong="H0834" hard|strong="H1004" as|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" could|strong="H5971", and|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" temple|strong="H1004" fell|strong="H5307" on|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" rulers and|strong="H1004" everyone|strong="H3605" in|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921". In|strong="H5921" this|strong="H0834" way|strong="H3605" Samson|strong="H8123" killed|strong="H4191" many|strong="H7227" more|strong="H5921" Philistines|strong="H6430" when|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" died|strong="H4191" than|strong="H5921" when|strong="H1961" he|strong="H0834" was|strong="H1961" alive|strong="H2416".
31 Samson’s brothers|strong="H0251" and|strong="H3478" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1931" in|strong="H8141" his|strong="H3605" father’s|strong="H0001" family|strong="H1004" went|strong="H5927" down|strong="H3381" to|strong="H3381" get|strong="H5927" his|strong="H3605" body. They|strong="H8141" brought|strong="H5927" him|strong="H0853" back|strong="H5927" and|strong="H3478" buried|strong="H6912" him|strong="H0853" in|strong="H8141" his|strong="H3605" father’s|strong="H0001" tomb|strong="H6913", which|strong="H1931" is|strong="H1931" between|strong="H0996" the|strong="H3605" cities of|strong="H1004" Zorah|strong="H6881" and|strong="H3478" Eshtaol|strong="H0847". Samson was|strong="H3478" a|strong="H5375" judge|strong="H8199" for|strong="H1004" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" for|strong="H1004" 20 years|strong="H8141".