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Judges 16:4-31
New American Standard Bible
Judges 16:4-31
New American Standard Bible
4 After this it came about that he was in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 So the (A)governors of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “(B)Entice him, and see where his great strength lies and [a]how we can overpower him so that we may bind him to humble him. Then we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and [b]how you can be bound to humble you.” 7 And Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh [c]animal tendons that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the governors of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh [d]animal tendons that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men prepared for an ambush in an inner room. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he tore the tendons to pieces just like a thread of flax is torn apart when it [e]comes too close to fire. So his strength was not discovered.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have toyed with me and told me lies; now please tell me [f]how you may be bound.” 11 Then He said to her, “If they bind me tightly with new ropes [g]which have not been used, then I will become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” For the men in the ambush were waiting in the inner room. But he tore [h]the ropes from his arms like thread.
13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Up to now you have toyed with me and told me lies; tell me [i]how you may be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my [j]hair with the [k]web [l][and fasten it with the pin, then I will be weak like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah wove the seven locks of his [m]hair with the web]. And she fastened it with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled out the pin of the loom and the web.
Delilah Extracts His Secret
15 Then she said to him, “(C)How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have toyed with me these three times and have not told me where your great strength is.” 16 And it came about, when she pressed him daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was [n]annoyed to death. 17 So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, “A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a (D)Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will leave me and I will become weak and be like any other man.”
18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all that was in his heart, she sent word and called the governors of the Philistines, saying, “Come up once more, for he has told me all that is in his heart.” Then the governors of the Philistines came up to her and brought up the money in their hands. 19 And she made him sleep on her knees, and called for a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to humble him, and his strength left him. 20 She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that (E)the Lord had departed from him. 21 Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza and restrained him with bronze chains, and he became a grinder in the prison. 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.
23 Now the governors of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to (F)Dagon their god, and to celebrate, for they said,
“Our god has handed Samson our enemy over to us.”
24 When the people saw him, (G)they praised their god, for they said,
“Our god has handed our enemy over to us,
Even the destroyer of our country,
Who has killed many of us.”
25 It so happened when [o]they were in high spirits, that they said, “Call for Samson, that he may amuse us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he [p]entertained them. And they made him stand between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the boy who was holding his hand, “[q]Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, so that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women, and all the governors of the Philistines were there. And about three thousand men and women were on the roof looking on while Samson was entertaining them.
Samson Is Avenged
28 (H)Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “Lord [r]God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once (I)take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. 30 And Samson said, “Let [s]me die with the Philistines!” And he pushed outwards powerfully, so that the house fell on the governors and all the people who were in it. And the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed during his lifetime. 31 Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down and took him, and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of his father Manoah. (J)So he had judged Israel for twenty years.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 16:5 Lit by what
- Judges 16:6 Lit by what
- Judges 16:7 I.e., of a butchered animal, that shrink and hold when drying
- Judges 16:8 See note v 7
- Judges 16:9 Lit smells
- Judges 16:10 Lit by what
- Judges 16:11 Lit with which work has not been done
- Judges 16:12 Lit them
- Judges 16:13 Lit by what
- Judges 16:13 Lit head
- Judges 16:13 I.e., in weaving, the warp of a loom
- Judges 16:13 The passage in brackets is found in LXX but not in any Heb mss
- Judges 16:14 Lit head
- Judges 16:16 Lit impatient to the point of
- Judges 16:25 Lit their heart was pleasant
- Judges 16:25 Lit made sport before them
- Judges 16:26 Or Let go of me, and let me feel
- Judges 16:28 Heb YHWH, usually rendered Lord
- Judges 16:30 Lit my soul
Judges 16:4-31
New International Version
Judges 16:4-31
New International Version
4 Some time later, he fell in love(A) with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah.(B) 5 The rulers of the Philistines(C) went to her and said, “See if you can lure(D) him into showing you the secret of his great strength(E) 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[a] of silver.”(F)
6 So Delilah(G) said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.”
7 Samson answered her, “If anyone ties me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
8 Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9 With men hidden in the room,(H) she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(I) 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.
10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “You have made a fool of me;(J) you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.”
11 He said, “If anyone ties me securely with new ropes(K) that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.”
12 So 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!”(L) But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.
13 Delilah 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 14 and[b] tightened it with the pin.
Again she called to him, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(M) He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.
15 Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’(N) when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time(O) you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.(P)” 16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.
17 So he told her everything.(Q) “No razor has ever been used on my head,” he said, “because I have been a Nazirite(R) 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(S), “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.(T) 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.[c] And his strength left him.(U)
20 Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!”(V)
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.(W)
21 Then the Philistines(X) seized him, gouged out his eyes(Y) and took him down to Gaza.(Z) Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain(AA) in the prison. 22 But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
The Death of Samson
23 Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon(AB) their god and to celebrate, saying, “Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.”
24 When the people saw him, they praised their god,(AC) saying,
“Our god has delivered our enemy
into our hands,(AD)
the one who laid waste our land
and multiplied our slain.”
25 While they were in high spirits,(AE) 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, 26 Samson 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.” 27 Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof(AF) were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28 Then Samson prayed to the Lord,(AG) “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge(AH) on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 Then 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, 30 Samson 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.
31 Then 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(AI) his father. He had led[d](AJ) Israel twenty years.(AK)
Footnotes
- Judges 16:5 That is, about 28 pounds or about 13 kilograms
- Judges 16:14 Some Septuagint manuscripts; Hebrew replied, “I can if you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric on the loom.” 14 So she
- Judges 16:19 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and he began to weaken
- Judges 16:31 Traditionally judged
Hebrews 13
New American Standard Bible
Hebrews 13
New American Standard Bible
The Changeless Christ
13 Let (A)love of the brothers and sisters continue. 2 Do not neglect (B)hospitality to strangers, for by this some have (C)entertained angels without knowing it. 3 (D)Remember (E)the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are badly treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 (F)Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; (G)for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5 Make sure that your character is (H)free from the love of money, (I)being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “(J)I will never desert you, nor will I ever abandon you,” 6 so that we confidently say,
“(K)The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid.
What will man do to me?”
7 Remember (L)those who led you, who spoke (M)the word of God to you; and considering the [a]result of their way of life, (N)imitate their faith. 8 (O)Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and forever. 9 (P)Do not be misled by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to (Q)be strengthened by grace, not by (R)foods, (S)through which those who [b]were so occupied were not benefited. 10 We have an altar (T)from which those (U)who serve the [c]tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For (V)the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered (W)outside the gate, (X)that He might sanctify the people (Y)through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, (Z)bearing His reproach. 14 For here (AA)we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking (AB)the city which is to come.
God-pleasing Sacrifices
15 (AC)Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a (AD)sacrifice of praise to God, that is, (AE)the fruit of lips praising His name. 16 And do not neglect doing good and (AF)sharing, for (AG)with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 (AH)Obey your leaders and submit to them—for (AI)they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account—so that they may do this with joy, not [d]groaning; for this would be unhelpful for you.
18 (AJ)Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a (AK)good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things. 19 And I urge you all the more to do this, (AL)so that I may be restored to you more quickly.
Benediction
20 Now may (AM)the God of peace, who (AN)brought up from the dead the (AO)great Shepherd of the sheep [e]through (AP)the blood of the (AQ)eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, 21 (AR)equip you in every good thing to do His will, (AS)working in us that (AT)which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, (AU)to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
22 But (AV)I urge you, (AW)brothers and sisters, [f]listen patiently to [g]this (AX)word of exhortation, for (AY)I have written to you briefly. 23 Know that (AZ)our brother Timothy has been released, with whom, if he comes soon, I will see you. 24 Greet (BA)all of your leaders and all the [h](BB)saints. Those from (BC)Italy greet you.
25 (BD)Grace be with you all.
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:7 Or end of their life
- Hebrews 13:9 Lit walked
- Hebrews 13:10 Or sacred tent
- Hebrews 13:17 Or sighing
- Hebrews 13:20 Lit in
- Hebrews 13:22 Or listen to
- Hebrews 13:22 Lit the
- Hebrews 13:24 Lit holy ones; i.e., God’s people
Hebrews 13
New International Version
Hebrews 13
New International Version
Concluding Exhortations
13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.(A) 2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,(B) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.(C) 3 Continue to remember those in prison(D) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.
4 Marriage should be honored by all,(E) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.(F) 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money(G) and be content with what you have,(H) because God has said,
6 So we say with confidence,
7 Remember your leaders,(K) who spoke the word of God(L) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate(M) their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(N)
9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(O) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(P) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(Q) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(R) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(S) have no right to eat.(T)
11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(U) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(V) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(W) to make the people holy(X) through his own blood.(Y) 13 Let us, then, go to him(Z) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(AA) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(AB) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(AC)
15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice(AD) of praise—the fruit of lips(AE) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(AF) for with such sacrifices(AG) God is pleased.
17 Have confidence in your leaders(AH) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you(AI) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
18 Pray for us.(AJ) We are sure that we have a clear conscience(AK) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.(AL)
Benediction and Final Greetings
20 Now may the God of peace,(AM) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(AN) brought back from the dead(AO) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(AP) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(AQ) and may he work in us(AR) what is pleasing to him,(AS) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AT)
22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.(AU)
23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy(AV) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.
24 Greet all your leaders(AW) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy(AX) send you their greetings.
25 Grace be with you all.(AY)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
- Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
New American Standard Bible
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
New American Standard Bible
9 “(A)You shall count seven weeks for yourself; you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. 10 Then you shall [a]celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with a [b]voluntary offering of your hand in a proportional amount, which you shall give just as the Lord your God blesses you; 11 and you shall (B)rejoice before the Lord your God, you, your son and your daughter, and your male and female slaves, and (C)the Levite who is in your [c]town, and (D)the stranger, the [d]orphan, and the widow who are in your midst, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name. 12 (E)You shall also remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful and [e]comply with these statutes.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Deuteronomy 16:10 Lit perform
- Deuteronomy 16:10 Or freewill offering
- Deuteronomy 16:11 Lit gates
- Deuteronomy 16:11 Or fatherless
- Deuteronomy 16:12 Lit perform these
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
New International Version
Deuteronomy 16:9-12
New International Version
The Festival of Weeks(A)
9 Count off seven weeks(B) from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.(C) 10 Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. 11 And rejoice(D) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name(E)—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites(F) in your towns, and the foreigners,(G) the fatherless and the widows living among you.(H) 12 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt,(I) and follow carefully these decrees.
Acts 18:24-19:7
New American Standard Bible
Acts 18:24-19:7
New American Standard Bible
24 Now a Jew named (A)Apollos, an (B)Alexandrian by birth, [a]an eloquent man, came to (C)Ephesus; and he was proficient in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in (D)the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he was accurately speaking and teaching things about Jesus, being acquainted only with (E)the baptism of John; 26 and [b]he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when (F)Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained (G)the way of God more accurately to him. 27 And when he wanted to go across to (H)Achaia, (I)the brothers encouraged him and wrote to (J)the disciples to welcome him; and when he had arrived, he greatly [c]helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating (K)by the Scriptures that (L)Jesus was the [d]Christ.
Paul in Ephesus
19 Now it happened that while (M)Apollos was in (N)Corinth, Paul passed through the (O)upper country and came to (P)Ephesus, and found some disciples. 2 He said to them, “(Q)Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said to him, “On the contrary, (R)we have not even heard if there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “(S)Into John’s baptism.” 4 Paul said, “(T)John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people (U)to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 5 When they heard this, they were (V)baptized [e]in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had (W)laid hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they began (X)speaking with tongues and (Y)prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Footnotes
- Acts 18:24 Or a learned man
- Acts 18:26 Lit this man
- Acts 18:27 Or helped greatly through grace those who had believed
- Acts 18:28 I.e., Messiah
- Acts 19:5 Lit into
Acts 18:24-19:7
New International Version
Acts 18:24-19:7
New International Version
24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(A) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(B) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](C) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(D) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(E) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.
27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(F) the brothers and sisters(G) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(H) that Jesus was the Messiah.(I)
Paul in Ephesus
19 While Apollos(J) was at Corinth,(K) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(L) There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(M) when[b] you believed?”
They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3 So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”
“John’s baptism,” they replied.
4 Paul said, “John’s baptism(N) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(O) 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(P) 6 When Paul placed his hands on them,(Q) the Holy Spirit came on them,(R) and they spoke in tongues[c](S) and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all.
Footnotes
- Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
- Acts 19:2 Or after
- Acts 19:6 Or other languages
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