1
Then Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there and went in unto her.
2
And it was told unto those of Gaza, Samson is come here. And they compassed
him in and laid in wait for him all night in the gate of the city and were quiet all that night, saying, In the morning when it is light, we shall kill him.
3
And Samson slept until midnight and arose at midnight and took the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and all, and put
them upon his shoulders and carried them up to the top of the mountain that
is before Hebron.
4
And it came to pass afterward that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name
was Delilah.
5
And the cardinals of the Philistines came up unto her and said unto her, Entice him and see what
gives him his great strength and by what
means we may overcome him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and each one of us will give thee eleven hundred
pieces of silver.
6
And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, what
gives thee thy great strength and how might thou be bound to afflict thee.
7
And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green wicker
strands that were never dried, then I shall become weak and be as any other man.
8
Then the cardinals of the Philistines brought up to her seven green wicker
strands which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.
9
Now
there were men lying in wait in a chamber of her house. And she said unto him, The Philistines
are upon thee, Samson. And he broke the wicker
strands as a thread of tow is broken when it touches the fire. So
the secret of his strength was not known.
10
Then Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me and told me lies; now tell me, I pray thee, how thou might be bound.
11
And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never were occupied, then I shall become weak and be as any
other man.