Judges 16:5–12

⁵And the lords of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, Persuade him, and see in what his great strength is, and with what we may prevail against him, that we may bind him to overpower him; and we will each give thee eleven hundred silver-pieces. ⁶Then Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, in what is thy great strength, and with what thou mightest be bound to overpower thee. ⁷And Samson said to her, If they should bind me with seven fresh cords which have not been dried, then should I be weak, and be as another man. ⁸Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh cords which had not been dried, and she bound him with them. ⁹Now she had liers in wait abiding in the chamber; and she said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! And he broke the cords, as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire; and his strength was not known. ¹⁰And Delilah said to Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me and told me lies. Now tell me, I pray thee, with what thou mightest be bound. ¹¹And he said to her, If they should bind me fast with new ropes, with which no work has been done, then should I be weak, and be as another man. ¹²And Delilah took new ropes, and bound him with them, and said to him, The Philistines are upon thee, Samson! Now there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. And he broke them from off his arms like a thread.