Judges 16:5–12

⁵The Philistine rulers came to her and said, “Trick him, and find out what makes him so strong. Find out how we can overpower him. We want to tie him up in order to torture him. Each of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 

⁶So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes you so strong. How can you be tied up so that someone could torture you?” 

⁷Samson told her, “If someone ties me up with seven new bowstrings that are not dried out, I will be like any other man.” 

⁸The Philistine rulers brought her seven new bowstrings that were not dried out. She tied Samson up with them. ⁹Some men were hiding in the bedroom waiting for her ⸤to tie him up⸥. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Samson snapped the bowstrings as a thread snaps when it touches fire. So no one found out why he was so strong. 

¹⁰Delilah told Samson, “Look, you’re making fun of me by telling me lies. Now, tell me how you can be tied up.” 

¹¹Samson told her, “If someone ties me up tightly with new ropes that have never been used, I will be like any other man.” 

¹²So Delilah took some new ropes and tied him up with them. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Some men were in her bedroom waiting to ambush him. But Samson tore the ropes off his arms as though they were strings.