English Standard Version

Judges 16:8-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

8. Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

9. Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

10. Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.”

11. And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

12. So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

13. Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

14. So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.