11 Samson told her, “If someone ties me up tightly with new ropes that have never been used, I will be like any other man.”
12 So Delilah took some new ropes and tied him up with them. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” Some men were in her bedroom waiting to ambush him. But Samson tore the ropes off his arms as though they were strings.
13 Delilah told Samson, “You’re still making fun of me by telling me lies. Tell me how you can be tied up.”Samson replied, “Just weave the seven braids of my hair with the other threads in the loom.”
14 So Delilah tied his braids to the loom shuttle. Then she said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are attacking!” But Samson woke up and tore his braids and the threads out of the loom shuttle.
15 Delilah said to Samson, “How can you say that you love me when your heart isn’t mine? You’ve made fun of me three times now, but you still haven’t told me what makes you so strong.”
16 Every day she made his life miserable with her questions. She pestered him until he wished he were dead.
17 Finally, he told her the truth. He told her, “Because I’m a Nazirite, no one has ever cut the hair on my head. I was dedicated to God before I was born. If my hair is ever shaved off, my strength will leave me. Then I’ll be like any other man.”