Judges 16:5–12

⁵And ^bthe lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, ^c“Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to ^dhumble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” ⁶So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could ^dsubdue you.”

⁷Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, ^ethen I shall become weak and be like any other man.” ⁸Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. ⁹Now 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.

¹⁰Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” ¹¹And he said to her, “If they bind me with ^fnew ropes that have not been used, then I shall 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!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.