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1. One day Samson went to the city of Gaza. He saw a prostitute there and went in to stay the night with her.
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1. Then went H1980 Samson H8123 to Gaza H5804 , and saw H7200 there H8033 a harlot H802 H2181 , and went in H935 unto H413 her.
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2. Someone told the people of Gaza, "Samson has come here." They wanted to kill him, so they surrounded the city. They hid near the city gate and waited all night for him. They were very quiet all night long. They had said to each other, "When morning comes, we will kill Samson."
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2. And it was told the Gazites H5841 , saying H559 , Samson H8123 is come H935 hither H2008 . And they compassed H5437 him in , and laid wait H693 for him all H3605 night H3915 in the gate H8179 of the city H5892 , and were quiet H2790 all H3605 the night H3915 , saying H559 , In the morning H1242 , when H5704 it is day H216 , we shall kill H2026 him.
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3. But Samson only stayed with the prostitute until midnight. Then he got up and grabbed the doors of the city gate and pulled them loose from the wall. He pulled down the doors, the two posts, and the bars that lock the doors shut. He put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill near the city of Hebron.
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3. And Samson H8123 lay H7901 till H5704 midnight H2677 H3915 , and arose H6965 at midnight H2677 H3915 , and took H270 the doors H1817 of the gate H8179 of the city H5892 , and the two H8147 posts H4201 , and went away H5265 with them , bar and all H5973 H1280 , and put H7760 them upon H5921 his shoulders H3802 , and carried them up H5927 to H413 the top H7218 of a hill H2022 that H834 is before H5921 H6440 Hebron H2275 .
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4. Later, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who was from Sorek Valley.
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4. And it came to pass H1961 afterward H310 H3651 , that he loved H157 a woman H802 in the valley H5158 of Sorek H7796 , whose name H8034 was Delilah H1807 .
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5. The rulers of the Philistines went to Delilah and said, "We want to know what makes Samson so strong. Try to trick him into telling you his secret. Then we will know how to capture him and tie him up. Then we will be able to control him. If you do this, each one of us will give you 28 pounds of silver."
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5. And the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 came up H5927 unto H413 her , and said H559 unto her, Entice H6601 him , and see H7200 wherein H4100 his great H1419 strength H3581 lieth , and by what H4100 means we may prevail H3201 against him , that we may bind H631 him to afflict H6031 him : and we H587 will give H5414 thee every one H376 of us eleven hundred H505 H3967 pieces of silver H3701 .
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6. So Delilah said to Samson, "Tell me why you are so strong. How could someone tie you up and make you helpless?"
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6. And Delilah H1807 said H559 to H413 Samson H8123 , Tell H5046 me , I pray thee H4994 , wherein H4100 thy great H1419 strength H3581 lieth , and wherewith H4100 thou mightest be bound H631 to afflict H6031 thee.
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7. Samson answered, "Someone would have to tie me up with seven fresh, new bowstrings. If someone did that, I would be weak like any other man."
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7. And Samson H8123 said H559 unto H413 her, If H518 they bind H631 me with seven H7651 green H3892 withes H3499 that H834 were never H3808 dried H2717 , then shall I be weak H2470 , and be H1961 as another H259 man H120 .
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8. Then the rulers of the Philistines brought seven fresh, new bowstrings to Delilah, and she tied Samson with the bowstrings.
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8. Then the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 brought up H5927 to her seven H7651 green H3892 withes H3499 which H834 had not H3808 been dried H2717 , and she bound H631 him with them.
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9. Some men were hiding in the next room. Delilah said to Samson, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" But Samson easily broke the bowstrings. They snapped like a string when it comes too close to a flame. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson's strength.
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9. Now there were men lying in wait H693 , abiding H3427 with her in the chamber H2315 . And she said H559 unto H413 him , The Philistines H6430 be upon H5921 thee, Samson H8123 . And he broke H5423 H853 the withes H3499 , as H834 a thread H6616 of tow H5296 is broken H5423 when it toucheth H7306 the fire H784 . So his strength H3581 was not H3808 known H3045 .
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10. Then Delilah said to Samson, "You lied to me. You made me look foolish. Please tell me the truth. How could someone tie you up?"
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10. And Delilah H1807 said H559 unto H413 Samson H8123 , Behold H2009 , thou hast mocked H2048 me , and told H1696 H413 me lies H3577 : now H6258 tell H5046 me , I pray thee H4994 , wherewith H4100 thou mightest be bound H631 .
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11. Samson said, "Someone would have to tie me up with new ropes. They would have to tie me with ropes that have not been used before. If someone did that, I would become as weak as any other man."
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11. And he said H559 unto H413 her, If H518 they bind me fast H631 H631 with new H2319 ropes H5688 that H834 never H3808 were occupied H6213 H4399 , then shall I be weak H2470 , and be H1961 as another H259 man H120 .
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12. So Delilah took some new ropes and tied up Samson. Some men were hiding in the next room. Then Delilah called out to him, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" But he broke the ropes easily as if they were threads.
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12. Delilah H1807 therefore took H3947 new H2319 ropes H5688 , and bound H631 him therewith , and said H559 unto H413 him , The Philistines H6430 be upon H5921 thee, Samson H8123 . And there were liers in wait H693 abiding H3427 in the chamber H2315 . And he broke H5423 them from off H4480 H5921 his arms H2220 like a thread H2339 .
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13. Then Delilah said to Samson, "You lied to me again. You made me look foolish. Now, tell me how someone could tie you up." Samson said, "If you use the loom to weave the seven braids of hair on my head and tighten it with a pin, I will become as weak as any other man."
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13. And Delilah H1807 said H559 unto H413 Samson H8123 , Hitherto H5704 H2008 thou hast mocked H2048 me , and told H1696 H413 me lies H3576 : tell H5046 me wherewith H4100 thou mightest be bound H631 . And he said H559 unto H413 her, If H518 thou weavest H707 H853 the seven H7651 locks H4253 of my head H7218 with H5973 the web H4545 .
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14. Later, Samson went to sleep, so Delilah used the loom to weave the seven braids of hair on his head. Then Delilah fastened the loom to the ground with a tent peg. Again she called out to him, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" Samson pulled up the tent peg, the loom, and the shuttle.
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14. And she fastened H8628 it with the pin H3489 , and said H559 unto H413 him , The Philistines H6430 be upon H5921 thee, Samson H8123 . And he awaked H3364 out of his sleep H4480 H8142 , and went away H5265 H853 with the pin H3489 of the beam H708 , and with the web H4545 .
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15. Then Delilah said to Samson, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you don't even trust me? You refuse to tell me your secret. This is the third time you made me look foolish. You haven't told me the secret of your great strength."
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15. And she said H559 unto H413 him, How H349 canst thou say H559 , I love H157 thee , when thine heart H3820 is not H369 with H854 me? thou hast mocked H2048 me these three H7969 times H6471 , and hast not H3808 told H5046 me wherein H4100 thy great H1419 strength H3581 lieth .
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16. She kept bothering Samson day after day. He got so tired of her asking him about his secret that he felt like he was going to die.
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16. And it came to pass H1961 , when H3588 she pressed H6693 him daily H3605 H3117 with her words H1697 , and urged H509 him, so that his soul H5315 was vexed H7114 unto death H4191 ;
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17. Finally, Samson told Delilah everything. He said, "I have never had my hair cut. I was dedicated to God before I was born. If someone shaved my head, I would lose my strength. I would become as weak as any other man."
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17. That he told H5046 her H853 all H3605 his heart H3820 , and said H559 unto her , There hath not H3808 come H5927 a razor H4177 upon H5921 mine head H7218 ; for H3588 I H589 have been a Nazarite H5139 unto God H430 from my mother H517 's womb H4480 H990 : if H518 I be shaven H1548 , then my strength H3581 will go H5493 from H4480 me , and I shall become weak H2470 , and be H1961 like any H3605 other man H120 .
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18. Delilah saw that Samson had told her his secret. She sent a message to the rulers of the Philistines. She said, "Come back again. Samson has told me everything." So the rulers of the Philistines came back and brought the money that they had promised to give her.
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18. And when Delilah H1807 saw H7200 that H3588 he had told H5046 her H853 all H3605 his heart H3820 , she sent H7971 and called H7121 for the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 , saying H559 , Come up H5927 this once H6471 , for H3588 he hath showed H5046 me H853 all H3605 his heart H3820 . Then the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 came up H5927 unto H413 her , and brought H5927 money H3701 in their hand H3027 .
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19. Delilah got Samson to go to sleep with his head lying in her lap. Then she called in a man to shave off the seven braids of Samson's hair. In this way she made Samson weak, and his strength left him.
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19. And she made him sleep H3462 upon H5921 her knees H1290 ; and she called H7121 for a man H376 , and she caused him to shave off H1548 H853 the seven H7651 locks H4253 of his head H7218 ; and she began H2490 to afflict H6031 him , and his strength H3581 went H5493 from H4480 H5921 him.
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20. Then Delilah called out to him, "Samson, the Philistine men are going to capture you!" He woke up and thought, "I will escape as I did before and free myself." But Samson did not know that the Lord had left him.
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20. And she said H559 , The Philistines H6430 be upon H5921 thee, Samson H8123 . And he awoke H3364 out of his sleep H4480 H8142 , and said H559 , I will go out H3318 as at other times before H6471 H6471 , and shake myself H5287 . And he H1931 knew H3045 not H3808 that H3588 the LORD H3068 was departed H5493 from H4480 H5921 him.
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21. The Philistine men captured Samson. They tore out his eyes and took him down to the city of Gaza. Then they put chains on him to keep him from running away. They put him in prison and made him work grinding grain.
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21. But the Philistines H6430 took H270 him , and put out H5365 H853 his eyes H5869 , and brought him down H3381 H853 to Gaza H5804 , and bound H631 him with fetters of brass H5178 ; and he did H1961 grind H2912 in the prison H615 house H1004 .
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22. But his hair began to grow again.
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22. Howbeit the hair H8181 of his head H7218 began H2490 to grow again H6779 after H834 he was shaven H1548 .
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23. The Philistine rulers came together to celebrate. They were going to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They said, "Our god helped us defeat Samson our enemy."
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23. Then the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 gathered them together H622 for to offer H2076 a great H1419 sacrifice H2077 unto Dagon H1712 their god H430 , and to rejoice H8057 : for they said H559 , Our god H430 hath delivered H5414 H853 Samson H8123 our enemy H341 into our hand H3027 .
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24. When the Philistines saw Samson, they praised their god. They said, "This man destroyed our people! He killed many of our people! But our god helped us take our enemy!"
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24. And when the people H5971 saw H7200 him , they praised H1984 H853 their god H430 : for H3588 they said H559 , Our god H430 hath delivered H5414 into our hands H3027 H853 our enemy H341 , and the destroyer H2717 of our country H776 , which H834 slew many H7235 H853 H2491 of us.
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25. The people were having a good time at the celebration. So they said, "Bring Samson out. We want to make fun of him." So they brought Samson from the prison and made fun of him. They made him stand between the columns in the temple of the god Dagon.
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25. And it came to pass H1961 , when H3588 their hearts H3820 were merry H2896 , that they said H559 , Call H7121 for Samson H8123 , that he may make us sport H7832 . And they called H7121 for Samson H8123 out of the prison house H4480 H1004 H615 ; and he made them sport H6711 H6440 : and they set H5975 him between H996 the pillars H5982 .
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26. A servant was holding his hand. Samson said to him, "Put me where I can feel the columns that hold this temple up. I want to lean against them."
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26. And Samson H8123 said H559 unto H413 the lad H5288 that held H2388 him by the hand H3027 , Suffer H5117 me that I may feel H4184 H853 the pillars H5982 whereupon H834 H5921 the house H1004 standeth H3559 , that I may lean H8172 upon H5921 them.
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27. The temple was crowded with men and women. All the Philistine rulers were there. There were about 3000 men and women on the roof of the temple. They were laughing and making fun of Samson.
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27. Now the house H1004 was full H4390 of men H376 and women H802 ; and all H3605 the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 were there H8033 ; and there were upon H5921 the roof H1406 about three H7969 thousand H505 men H376 and women H802 , that beheld H7200 while Samson H8123 made sport H7832 .
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28. Then Samson said a prayer to the Lord, "Lord All-Powerful, remember me. God, please give me strength one more time. Let me do this one thing to punish these Philistines for tearing out both of my eyes!"
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28. And Samson H8123 called H7121 unto H413 the LORD H3068 , and said H559 , O Lord H136 GOD H3069 , remember H2142 me , I pray thee H4994 , and strengthen H2388 me , I pray thee H4994 , only H389 this H2088 once H6471 , O God H430 , that I may be at once avenged H5358 H5359 H259 of the Philistines H4480 H6430 for my two H4480 H8147 eyes H5869 .
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29. Then Samson took hold of the two columns in the center of the temple that supported the whole temple. He braced himself between the two columns. One column was at his right side and the other at his left side.
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29. And Samson H8123 took hold H3943 of H853 the two H8147 middle H8432 pillars H5982 upon H5921 which H834 the house H1004 stood H3559 , and on H5921 which it was borne up H5564 , of the one H259 with his right hand H3225 , and of the other H259 with his left H8040 .
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30. Samson said, "Let me die with these Philistines!" Then he pushed as hard as he could, and the temple fell on the rulers and everyone in it. In this way Samson killed many more Philistines when he died than when he was alive.
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30. And Samson H8123 said H559 , Let me H5315 die H4191 with H5973 the Philistines H6430 . And he bowed H5186 himself with all his might H3581 ; and the house H1004 fell H5307 upon H5921 the lords H5633 , and upon H5921 all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 were therein . So the dead H4191 which H834 he slew H4191 at his death H4194 were H1961 more H7227 than they which H4480 H834 he slew H4191 in his life H2416 .
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31. Samson's brothers and all the people in his father's family went down to get his body. They brought him back and buried him in his father's tomb, which is between the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. Samson was a judge for the Israelites for 20 years.
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31. Then his brethren H251 and all H3605 the house H1004 of his father H1 came down H3381 , and took H5375 him , and brought him up H5927 , and buried H6912 him between H996 Zorah H6881 and Eshtaol H847 in the burial place H6913 of Manoah H4495 his father H1 . And he H1931 judged H8199 H853 Israel H3478 twenty H6242 years H8141 .
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