1One day Samson went to Gaza, where he saw a prostitute. He went in to spend the night with her. 2The people of Gaza were told, “Samson is here!” So they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, “At dawn we’ll kill him.” 3But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. 4Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, “See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels⚓ of silver.” 6So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.” 7Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” 8Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9With men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” 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. 10Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.” 11He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” 12So Delilah took new ropes and tied him with them. Then, with men hidden in the room, she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads. 13Delilah then said to Samson, “All this time you have been making a fool of me and lying to me. Tell me how you can be tied.” He replied, “If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom and tighten it with the pin, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while he was sleeping, Delilah took the seven braids of his head, wove them into the fabric 14and⚓ tightened it with the pin. Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric. 15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.” 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it. 17So he told her everything. “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite dedicated to God from my mother’s womb. If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” 18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, and so began to subdue him.⚓ And his strength left him. 20Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison. 22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
The Death of Samson
23Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.” 24When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.” 25While they were in high spirits, they shouted, “Bring out Samson to entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he performed for them. When they stood him among the pillars, 26Samson said to the servant who held his hand, “Put me where I can feel the pillars that support the temple, so that I may lean against them.” 27Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, 30Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. 31Then his brothers and his father’s whole family went down to get him. They brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had led⚓ Israel twenty years.
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Xaxoos Nyob Hauv Lub Nroog Nkaxas
1Muaj ib hnub Xaxoos mus txog rau hauv cov Filitees lub nroog Nkaxas, nws ntsib ib tug niamntiav nyob hauv, ces nws mus nrog tus niamntiav ntawd pw. 2Muaj neeg mus qhia rau cov neeg hauv lub nroog Nkaxas hais tias, “Xaxoos tuaj rau hauv no lawm,” lawv thiaj mus vij qhov chaw ntawd thiab pw ntawm roojvag nroog zov ib hmos kaj ntug plaws. Lawv zov ib hmos ntsiag to, lawv xav hais tias, “Peb yuav tos txog thaum kaj ntug tso, peb mam ntes nws tua povtseg.” 3Tiamsis Xaxoos mus pw hauv txaj txog thaum ib taghmo xwb. Ces nws sawv mus dawj lub roojvag nroog, ob tug ncej thiab tus ntsia liaj rooj, nws muab kwv loo rau saum xubpwg coj mus povtseg saum lub ncov roob uas saib ntsoov rau hauv lub nroog Henploos.
Xaxoos thiab Delilas
4Tom qab no muaj ib hnub, Xaxoos txawm nyiam ib tug hluas nkauj hu ua Delilas nyob hauv lub Hav Xaules. 5Cov Filitees cov thawjcoj mus cuag Delilas thiab hais rau nws hais tias, “Koj sim nug Xaxoos kom nws qhia rau koj saib yog vim li cas nws muaj zog ua luaj, thiab yuav ua li cas peb thiaj kovyeej nws, khi tau nws thiab ua kom nws tsis muaj zog. Yog koj nug tau, peb tuaj yeem muab ib leeg ib txhiab ib puas daim nyiaj rau koj.” 6Yog li ntawd, Delilas thiaj hais rau Xaxoos hais tias, “Thov koj qhia rau kuv saib yog ua li cas koj muaj zog ua luaj. Yog leejtwg xav khi koj thiab ua kom koj tsis muaj zog no, nws yuav ua li cas thiaj kovyeej koj?” 7Xaxoos teb hais tias, “Yog lawv muab xya txoj hlua hneevnti tshiab uas tseem tsis tau qhuav li coj los khi kuv, ces kuv tsuas muaj zog ib yam li sawvdaws lawm xwb.” 8Yog li ntawd, cov Filitees cov thawjcoj thiaj nqa tau xya txoj hlua hneevnti tshiab uas tseem tsis tau qhuav tuaj rau Delilas muab Xaxoos khi cia. 9Delilas twb kom ib co txivneej mus nyob ib chav tsev tos lawm, nws mam qw hais tias, “Xaxoos! Cov Filitees tuaj lawm!” Tiamsis Xaxoos nti ua rau cov hlua ntawd tu zom zaws ib yam li nplaim taws kub tej xov. Yog li ntawd, lawv tseem tsis tau paub hais tias yog vim li cas Xaxoos thiaj muaj zog npaum li ntawd. 10Delilas hais rau Xaxoos hais tias, “Saib maj, koj dag kuv thiab tsis qhia qhov tseeb rau kuv. Thov qhia tseeb rau kuv saib, luag yuav ua li cas thiaj khi tau koj.” 11Nws qhia rau Delilas hais tias, “Yog lawv muab tej hlua tshiab uas tsis tau siv los khi kuv, ces kuv tsuas muaj zog ib yam li lwm tus lawm xwb.” 12Delilas txawm muab ib co hlua tshiab los khi Xaxoos thiab qw hais tias, “Xaxoos! Cov Filitees tuaj lawm!” Cov txivneej yeej nyob rawv hauv ib chav tsev tos. Tiamsis Xaxoos nriaj tej hlua uas khi nws ob sab cajnpab tu ib yam li tej xov. 13Delilas hais rau Xaxoos hais tias, “Koj tseem dag kuv thiab tsis qhia qhov tseeb rau kuv txog tav no li. Qhia kuv saib, yuav ua li cas thiaj khi tau koj.” Nws hais rau Delilas hais tias, “Yog koj muab kuv xya qais plaubhau ntos thiab muab lub zuag npuaj kom ruaj ruaj rau ntawm lub nqos, ces kuv tsuas muaj zog ib yam li lwm tus lawm xwb.” 14Delilas txawm ntxias Xaxoos pw tsaug zaug, ces nws muab Xaxoos xya qais plaubhau ntos. Delilas muab lub zuag npuaj ruaj ruaj thiab qw hais tias, “Xaxoos! Cov Filitees tuaj lawm!” Tiamsis Xaxoos sawv tsees rub ua rau nws cov plaubhau plam plaws ntawm lub nqos los. 15Yog li ntawd, Delilas thiaj hais rau Xaxoos hais tias, “Vim li cas koj hais tias, ‘kuv hlub koj,’ tiamsis koj twb tsis muab siab npuab kuv li? Koj dag kuv peb zaug lawm, thiab koj tseem tsis tau qhia rau kuv paub hais tias yog dabtsi ua rau koj muaj zog ua luaj li ntawd.” 16Delilas niaj hnub nug Xaxoos li ntawd. Xaxoos dhuav thiab nkees mloog txog tej uas Delilas pheej txob nws, 17thaum kawg nws thiaj ua ib siab qhia qhov tseeb rau Delilas. Xaxoos hais tias, “Kuv cov plaubhau yeej ibtxwm tsis txiav, rau qhov kuv yog ib tug Naxis rau Vajtswv txij thaum yug tau kuv los lawm. Yog muab kuv cov plaubhau txiav, kuv lub zog yuav ntaug thiab kuv tsuas muaj zog ib yam li lwm tus lawm xwb.” 18Thaum Delilas paub hais tias, Xaxoos qhia qhov tseeb rau nws lawm, nws thiaj txib neeg mus hais rau cov Filitees cov thawjcoj tias, “Nej cia li rov tuaj. Nws twb qhia qhov tseeb rau kuv lawm.” Ces lawv txawm tuaj thiab nqa nyiaj tuaj. 19Delilas muab Xaxoos ntxias pw tsaug zog rau hauv nws xubntiag thiab hu ib tug txivneej los muab Xaxoos xya qais plaubhau txiav. Ces Delilas txawm tsimtxom Xaxoos, rau qhov Xaxoos tsis muaj zog lawm. 20Delilas qw hais tias, “Xaxoos! Cov Filitees tuaj lawm!” Xaxoos sawv tsees los, nws xav hais tias, “Ua li cas los kuv tseem yuav muaj zog thiab khiav dim.” Nws tsis paub hais tias tus TSWV twb tawm ntawm nws mus lawm. 21Cov Filitees thiaj ntes tau nws thiab muab nws ob lub qhovmuag kaus povtseg. Lawv cab nws mus rau hauv lub nroog Nkaxas, muab saw hlau khi nws, thiab yuam nws zom zeb hauv tsev lojcuj. 22Tiamsis nws cov plaubhau uas lawv muab txiav lawm ntev zuj zus rov tuaj.
Xaxoos Tuag
23Cov neeg Filitees cov thawjcoj tuaj sib sau ua ke coj khoom tuaj fij ua kev zoo siab txi lawv tus vajtswv Dankoos. Lawv hu nkauj hais tias, “Peb tus vajtswv tau coj Xaxoos uas yog peb tus yeebncuab los cob rau peb tes lawm tiag lauj!” 24Thaum cov neeg sawvdaws pom Xaxoos, lawv hu nkauj qhuas lawv tus vajtswv hais tias, “Peb tus vajtswv coj peb tus yeebncuab los cob rau peb tes lawm, nws yog tus rhuav tshem peb lub tebchaws thiab tua peb cov neeg tuag ua tsheej pawg ntag.” 25Thaum lawv tuaj ua ke zoo siab, lawv hais tias, “Coj Xaxoos tawm los rau peb saib.” Ces lawv thiaj coj Xaxoos tawm hauv tsev lojcuj los rau sawvdaws saib. 26Xaxoos hais rau tus menyuam tub ua tuav nws tes los ntawd hais tias, “Koj coj kuv mus tuav cov ncej tse no. Rau qhov kuv xav pheeb cov ncej ntawd.” 27Lub tsev ntawd muaj pojniam thiab txivneej coob heev tuaj nyob puv nkaus. Cov Filitees cov thawjcoj puavleej tuaj nyob ntawd. Xam tagnrho pojniam thiab txivneej muaj kwvyees peb txhiab leej tuaj sawv txheej tsev saud saib Xaxoos. 28Ces Xaxoos thov hais tias, “Tus TSWV uas kav ib puas tsav yam, thov nco txog kuv lauj! Vajtswv, zaum no thov koj pub rau kuv rov muaj zog li qub ib zaug ntxiv, kom kuv pauj tau cov Filitees no. Kuv chim heev vim lawv muab kuv ob lub qhovmuag kaus povtseg lawm.” 29Yog li ntawd, Xaxoos thiaj tuav ob tug ncej hauv plawv uas txheem lub tsev ntawd. Nws muab ib sab tes tuav ib tug ncej, ces nws thawb ob tug ncej ntawd, 30thiab qw hais tias, “Cia kuv tuag nrog cov Filitees ua ke lauj!” Nws sib zog thawb tagnrho nws lub zog, lub tsev ntawd thiaj vau los ntaus cov thawjcoj thiab txhua tus uas nyob hauv lub tsev ntawd tuag tas huv tibsi. Thaum Xaxoos tuag nws tua cov Filitees tuag coob tshaj thaum nws tseem ua neej nyob. 31Nws cov kwvtij thiab nws tsevneeg tuaj kwv nws mus faus rau hauv nws txiv Manau-as lub qhov ntxa uas nyob ntawm lub nroog Xaulas thiab lub nroog Eta-aus ntu nruab nrab. Nws ua cov Yixalayees tus thawjcoj tau nees nkaum xyoo.