SAMSON AND DELILAH.

And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in thevalley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and saidunto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth,and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may bindhim to afflict him; and we will give thee every one of us elevenhundred pieces of silver.

And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thygreat strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound toafflict thee. And Samson said unto her, If they bind me withseven green withs that were never dried, then shall I be weak,and be as another man. Then the lords of the Philistines broughtup to her seven green withs which had not been dried, and shebound him with them. Now there were men lying in wait, abidingwith her in the chamber. And she said unto him, The Philistinesbe upon thee, Samson. And he brake the withs, as a thread of towis broken when it toucheth the fire. So his strength was notknown.

And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, andtold me lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightestbe bound. And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with clewropes that never were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be asanother man. Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound himtherewith, and said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee,Samson. And there were liers in wait abiding in the chamber. Andhe brake them from off his arms like a thread.

And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me,and told me lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. Andhe said unto her, If thou weavest the seven locks of my head withthe web. And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, ThePhilistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep,and went away with the pin of the beam and with the web.

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, whenthine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these threetimes, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. Andit came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, andurged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; that he toldher all his heart, and said unto her, There hath not come a razorupon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from mymother's womb if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me,and I shall become weak, and be like any other man.

And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, shesent and called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come upthis once, for he hath showed me all his heart. Then the lords ofthe Philistines came up unto her, and brought money in theirhand. And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for aman, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head;and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. Andshe said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke outof his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before,and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed fromhim. Judges xvi, 4-20.