4 After this, Samson fell in love with a woman named Delilah, who lived in the Valley of Sorek.
5 The Philistine rulers went to Delilah and said, “Find out what makes Samson so strong. Trick him into telling you how we can overpower him and capture him and tie him up. If you do this, each one of us will give you twenty-eight pounds of silver.”
6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me why you are so strong. How can someone tie you up and capture you?”
7 Samson answered, “Someone would have to tie me up with seven new bowstrings that have not been dried. Then I would be as weak as any other man.”
8 The Philistine rulers brought Delilah seven new bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied Samson with them.
9 Some men were hiding in another room. Delilah said to him, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” But Samson broke the bowstrings like pieces of burned string. So the Philistines did not find out the secret of Samson’s strength.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You made a fool of me. You lied to me. Now tell me how someone can tie you up.”