23 Now the lords of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to aDagon their god, and to rejoice, for they said,

“Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.”

24 When the people saw him, athey praised their god, for they said,

“Our god has given our enemy into our hands,

Even the destroyer of our country,

Who has slain many of us.”

25 It so happened when 1they were in high spirits, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he 2entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars.

26 Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.”

27 Now the house was full of men and women, and all the lords of the Philistines were there. And about 3,000 men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was amusing them.

Samson Is Avenged

28 aThen Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord 1God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once bbe avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.”

29 Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left.

30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with 1all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.