Judges 16:5–12

⁵The ^alords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “^bEntice him, and see where his great strength lies and ¹how we may overpower him that we may bind him to afflict him. Then we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

⁶So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength is and ¹how you may be bound to afflict you.”

⁷Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh cords that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man.”

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

⁹Now she had men lying in wait in an inner room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the cords as a string of tow snaps when it ¹touches fire. So his strength was not discovered.

¹⁰Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have deceived me and told me lies; now please tell me ¹how you may be bound.”

¹¹He said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes ¹which have not been used, then I will 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!” For the men were lying in wait in the inner room. But he snapped ¹the ropes from his arms like a thread.