Judges 16:17-20

New International Version

¹⁷ So he told her everything.^(A) “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite^(B) 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.”

¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines^(C), “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.^{(D) 19} After 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.^[a] And his strength left him.^(E)

²⁰ Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”^(F)

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.^(G)