16 1 Then Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a harlot and had sex with her.
2 When the Gazites heard that Samson was coming, they planned to kill him.
3 At midnight, Samson ripped out the doors and gate posts of the city and carried them to the top of a hill in Hebron.
4 Then Samson loved a woman named Delilah.
5 The Philistines came to Delilah and said to her,
Find out what makes Samson so strong and we'll each give you 1100 pieces of silver.
6 So Delilah said to Samson,
What makes you so strong?
How could you be tied up?
7 Samson said,
If they tied me with seven new bowstrings that have never been dried, I'd be as weak as any other man.
8 So the Philistines brought Delilah seven new undried bowstrings, and she tied Samson with them.
9 While several Philistines hid nearby, Delilah said to Samson,
Hey Samson, the Philistines are coming!
But he broke the bowstrings as though they were burnt strings.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson,
You lied to me before. Don't lie to me again.
Tell me how you can be tied up.
11 Samson said,
If they tied me with new ropes, I'd be as weak as any other man.
12 So she tied him with ropes and then shouted,
Hey Samson, the Philistines are coming!
But he broke the ropes like they were threads.
13 Delilah said again to Samson,
You lied to me again. Tell me the truth this time.
How you can be tied up?
Samson said,
Weave my braids into the loom.
14 So Delilah wove his seven hair braids into a loom, and attached it to the wall, and said to him,
Hey Samson, the Philistines are coming!
Samson woke up and pulled the loom from the wall.
15 Delilah said to Samson,
How can you say you love me when you have lied to me three times when I asked you why you are so strong.
17 Finally he told her the truth.
If you shave my hair off, I will be as weak as any man.
19 So she made him fall asleep on her knees, and had a man shave off Samson's seven braids.
And Samson lost his strength.
20 Then Delilah said one more time to Samson,
Hey Samson, the Philistines are coming!
And Samson woke up and said, "I'll break loose like I always do," not knowing that the Lord had left him.
21 Then the Philistines captured Samson, gouged out his eyes, and put him in prison.
22 But Samson's hair began to grow.
25 While the Philistines' hearts were merry, they brought in Samson to entertain them.
27 The house was full of about 3000 men and women.
28 Samson called out to God, saying,
Make me strong so I can get revenge on the Philistines for gouging out my eyes.
29 Samson grabbed the pillars and said,
Let me die with the Philistines.
30 And the house fell upon the people, killing them all.
So Samson killed more while dying than he killed in his life.
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