Judges 16:4–10

4 Some time later, he fell in lovep with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.q 5 The rulers of the Philistinesr went to her and said, “See if you can lures him into showing you the secret of his great strengtht and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekelsa of silver.”u

6 So Delilahv said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”

7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room,w she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”x But he snapped the bowstrings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me;y you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”