Judges 16 – NIRV & LCB

New International Reader’s Version

Judges 16:1-31

Samson and Delilah

1One day Samson went to Gaza. There 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. They hid and waited for him at the city gate all night long. They didn’t make any move against him during the night. They said, “Let’s wait until the sun comes up. Then we’ll kill him.”

3But Samson stayed there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up. He took hold of the doors of the city gate. He also took hold of the two doorposts. He tore them loose, together with their metal bar. He picked them up and put them on his shoulders. Then he carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

4Some time later, Samson fell in love again. The woman lived in the Valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah. 5The rulers of the Philistines went to her. They said, “See if you can get him to tell you the secret of why he’s so strong. Find out how we can overpower him. Then we can tie him up. We can bring him under our control. Each of us will give you 28 pounds of silver.”

6So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me the secret of why you are so strong. Tell me how you can be tied up and controlled.”

7Samson answered her, “Let someone tie me up with seven new bowstrings. They must be strings that aren’t completely dry. Then I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

8So the Philistine rulers brought seven new bowstrings to her. They weren’t completely dry. Delilah tied Samson up with them. 9Men were hiding in the room. She called out to him, “Samson! The Philistines are attacking you!” But he snapped the bowstrings easily. They were like pieces of string that had come too close to a flame. So the secret of why he was so strong wasn’t discovered.

10Delilah spoke to Samson again. “You have made me look foolish,” she said. “You told me a lie. Come on. Tell me how you can be tied up.”

11Samson said, “Let someone tie me tightly with new ropes. They must be ropes that have never been used. Then I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

12So Delilah got some new ropes. She tied him up with them. Men were hiding in the room. She called out to him, “Samson! The Philistines are attacking you!” But he snapped the ropes off his arms. They fell off just as if they were threads.

13Delilah spoke to Samson again. “All this time you have been making me look foolish,” she said. “You have been telling me lies. This time really tell me how you can be tied up.”

He replied, “Weave the seven braids of my hair into the cloth on a loom. Then tighten the cloth with a pin. If you do, I’ll become as weak as any other man.” So while Samson was sleeping, Delilah took hold of the seven braids of his hair. She wove them into the cloth on a loom. 14Then she tightened the cloth with a pin.

Again she called out to him, “Samson! The Philistines are attacking you!” He woke up from his sleep. He pulled up the pin and the loom, together with the cloth.

15Then she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you’? You won’t even share your secret with me. This is the third time you have made me look foolish. And you still haven’t told me the secret of why you are so strong.” 16She continued to pester him day after day. She nagged him until he was sick and tired of it.

17So he told her everything. He said, “My hair has never been cut. That’s because I’ve been a Nazirite since the day I was born. A Nazirite is set apart to God. If you shave my head, I won’t be strong anymore. I’ll become as weak as any other man.”

18Delilah realized he had told her everything. So she sent a message to the Philistine rulers. She said, “Come back one more time. He has told me everything.” So the rulers returned. They brought the silver with them. 19Delilah got Samson to go to sleep on her lap. Then she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair. That’s how she began to bring Samson under her control. And he wasn’t strong anymore.

20She called out, “Samson! The Philistines are attacking you!”

He woke up from his sleep. He thought, “I’ll go out just as I did before. I’ll shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that the Lord had left him.

21Then the Philistines grabbed him. They poked his eyes out. They took him down to Gaza. They put bronze chains around him. Then they made him grind grain in the prison. 22His head had been shaved. But the hair on it began to grow again.

Samson Dies

23The rulers of the Philistines gathered together. They were going to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They were going to celebrate. They said, “Our god has handed our enemy Samson over to us.”

24When the people saw Samson, they praised their god. They said,

“Our god has handed our enemy over to us.

Our enemy has destroyed our land.

He has killed large numbers of our people.”

25After they had drunk a lot of wine, they shouted, “Bring Samson out. Let him put on a show for us.” So they called Samson out of the prison. He put on a show for them.

They had him stand near the temple pillars. 26Then he spoke to the servant who was holding his hand. He said, “Put me where I can feel the pillars. I’m talking about the ones that hold up the temple. I want to lean against them.” 27The temple was crowded with men and women. All the Philistine rulers were there. About 3,000 men and women were on the roof. They were watching Samson put on a show. 28Then he prayed to the Lord. Samson said, “Lord and King, show me that you still have concern for me. Please, God, make me strong just one more time. Let me pay the Philistines back for what they did to my two eyes. Let me do it with only one blow.” 29Then Samson reached toward the two pillars that were in the middle of the temple. They were the ones that held up the temple. He put his right hand on one of them. He put his left hand on the other. He leaned hard against them. 30Samson said, “Let me die together with the Philistines!” Then he pushed with all his might. The temple came down on the rulers. It fell on all the people in it. So Samson killed many more Philistines when he died than he did while he lived.

31Then his brothers went down to get him. So did his father’s whole family. All of them brought Samson back home. They buried him in the tomb of his father Manoah. It’s between Zorah and Eshtaol. Samson had led Israel for 20 years.

Luganda Contemporary Bible

Balam 16:1-31

Samusooni ne Derira

1Samusooni n’alaga e Gaza n’alabayo omukazi malaaya, n’ayingira gy’ali. 216:2 1Sa 23:26; Zab 118:10-12; Bik 9:24Awo abantu ab’e Gaza ne bategeezebwa nga Samusooni bw’ali mu kifo ekyo. Ne bamuzingiza ne bamuteegera ku wankaaki w’ekibuga ekiro kyonna. Ne basiriikirira ekiro kyonna nga bagamba nti, “Obudde bwe bunaaba nga bunaatera okukya tunaamutta.”

316:3 Yos 10:36Naye Samusooni ne yeebaka okutuusa ettumbi, n’agolokoka mu ttumbi, n’akwata enzigi ebbiri eza wankaaki w’ekibuga, n’emifuubeeto gyombi, n’abisimbula okuva mu bifo byabyo, n’agyawo n’ekisiba, n’abiteeka ku bibegaabega bye n’abitwala ku ntikko y’olusozi olutunuulidde Kebbulooni.

416:4 Lub 24:67Awo oluvannyuma lw’ebyo n’aganza omukazi mu kiwonvu ky’e Soleki, erinnya lye Derira. 516:5 a Yos 13:3 b Kuv 10:7; Bal 14:15 c nny 18Abakulembeze b’Abafirisuuti16:5 Abafirisuuti baabeeranga mu bibuga bitaano, buli kimu nga kirina omukulembeze waakyo. ne bagenda gy’ali ne bamugamba nti, “Musendesende olabe amaanyi ge amangi mwe gasibuka, tulyoke tusinziire okwo okumusobola, tumusibe tumujeeze. Naffe tulikuwa buli omu ku ffe, ebitundu bya ffeeza lukumi mu kikumi16:5 ze kilo nga kkumi na ssatu.”

6Awo Derira n’agamba Samusooni nti, “Kaakano mbuulira amaanyi go amangi mwe gasibuka, era n’ekiyinza okukusiba okukujeeza.” 7Samusooni n’amugamba nti, “Bwe bansiba enkolokolo embisi musanvu, ezitakaze, olwo nnaanafuwa ne mbeera ng’omuntu omulala yenna.”

8Abakulembeze b’Abafirisuuti ne baleetera omukazi enkolokolo musanvu embisi ezitakaze, n’azimusibya. 916:9 nny 12Waaliwo abasajja abaali beekwese mu kisenge omwo omukazi mwe yali. Awo omukazi n’akoowoola Samusooni ng’agamba nti, “Samusooni Abafirisuuti bakuguddeko.” N’akutula enkolokolo, ng’omuntu bwe yandikutudde omuguwa oguyise mu muliro. Bwe kityo ensibuko y’amaanyi ge n’etazuulibwa.

1016:10 nny 13Awo Derira n’agamba Samusooni nti, “Laba, onduulidde, era onnimbye. Kaakano mbuulira ekiyinza okukusiba.” 1116:11 Bal 15:13N’amugamba nti, “Bwe bansibya emiguwa emiggya egitakozesebwangako, nnaanafuwa, ne mbeera ng’omuntu omulala yenna.” 12Awo Derira n’addira emiguwa emiggya, n’amusiba, nga mu kisenge mulimu abasajja abeekwese. N’alyoka amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Samusooni, Abafirisuuti bakuguddeko.” N’agyekutulako ku mikono ng’ewuzi.

13Awo Derira n’agamba Samusooni nti, “Okutuusa kaakano onduulidde era onnimbye. Mbuulira ekiyinza okukusiba.” N’amugamba nti, “Bw’onooluka emivumbo musanvu egiri ku mutwe gwange, n’engoye, n’obinyweza nzija kunafuwa, mbeere ng’omuntu omulala yenna.”

N’aluka emivumbo omusanvu egy’ali ku mutwe gwe, n’engoye, 1416:14 nny 9, 20n’abinyweza n’olubambo. N’amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Samusooni Abafirisuuti bakuguddeko.” N’agolokoka okuva mu tulo, ne yeetakkuluza ku lubambo lw’omuti ogulukirwako n’engoye ezirukiddwa.

1516:15 a Bal 14:16 b Kbl 24:10 c nny 5Awo Derira n’amugamba nti, “Oyinza otya okugamba nti onjagala, ate ng’omutima gwo teguli nange? Gino emirundi esatu onduulidde, n’otontegeeza amaanyi go amangi mwe gasibuka.” 16Bw’atyo omukazi n’amusendasendanga n’ebigambo bye ennaku zonna ng’amubuuza okutuusa lwe yamwetamwa.

1716:17 a Mi 7:5 b Kbl 6:2, 5; Bal 13:5Awo Samusooni n’amubuulira ebyali ku mutima gwe byonna. N’amugamba nti, “Simwebwangako nviiri, kubanga ndi muwonge eri Katonda okuva mu lubuto lwa mmange. Bwe mwebwako enviiri, olwo amaanyi gange gananvaako, ne nnafuwa, ne mbeera ng’omuntu omulala yenna.”

1816:18 Yos 13:3; 1Sa 5:8Awo Derira bwe yalaba ng’amutegeezezza byonna ebyali ku mutima gwe, n’atumira abakulembeze b’Abafirisuuti ng’agamba nti, “Mukomeewo omulundi guno gwokka, kubanga yantegeezezza ebiri mu mutima gwe byonna.” Awo Abafirisuuti ne bakomawo nga baleese ezaabu. 1916:19 Nge 7:26-27N’amwebasa ku maviivi ge, n’ayita omusajja n’amumwa emivumbo omusanvu egyali ku mutwe gwe, n’atandika okujeeza, amaanyi ge ne gamuvaako. 2016:20 Kbl 14:42; Yos 7:12; 1Sa 16:14; 18:12; 28:15N’amukoowoola ng’agamba nti, “Samusooni, Abafirisuuti bakuguddeko.” N’agolokoka okuva mu tulo ng’agamba nti, “Nzija kwetakkuluza ŋŋende nga bulijjo.” Naye teyamanya nga Mukama Katonda amulese.

2116:21 a Yer 47:1 b Kbl 16:14 c Yob 31:10; Is 47:2Awo Abafirisuuti ne bakwata Samusooni, ne bamuggyamu amaaso, ne bamuserengesa e Gaza nga musibe mu njegere ez’ekikomo, ne bamuteeka mu kkomera mu nnyumba omuseerebwa obuwunga. 22Kyokka bwe yamala okumwebwa, enviiri ze ne zitandika okumera.

2316:23 1Sa 5:2; 1By 10:10Awo abakulembeze b’Abafirisuuti ne bakuŋŋaana okuwaayo ssaddaaka eri lubaale waabwe Dagoni16:23 Dagoni ye yali lubaale w’Abafirisuuti omukulu. Erinnya Dagoni mu Lwebbulaniya litegeeza empeke. Noolwekyo yali lubaale w’ebimera. Lubaale oyo yakolebwa mu kifaananyi, ekitundu nga kya muntu n’ekitundu ekirala nga kya kyannyanja., nga bwe basanyuka. Ne boogera nti, “Lubaale waffe agabudde Samusooni omulabe waffe mu mukono gwaffe.” 2416:24 a Dan 5:4 b 1Sa 31:9; 1By 10:9Abantu bwe baalaba Samusooni, ne batendereza lubaale waabwe nga bwe boogera nti,

“Lubaale waffe agabudde omulabe waffe

mu mukono gwaffe,

oyo eyazikiriza ensi yaffe,

n’atta bangi ku ffe.”

2516:25 Bal 9:27; Lus 3:7; Es 1:10Awo bwe baasanyuka ennyo, ne bawowoggana nga bwe bagamba nti, “Mutuyitire Samusooni atusanyuseemu.”

Ne baleeta Samusooni abasanyuseemu, nga bamuggya mu kkomera. Ne bamuyimiriza wakati w’empagi. 26Awo Samusooni n’agamba omuweereza eyali amukutte ku mukono nti, “Leka nkwate ku mpagi eziwaniridde essabo, nsobole okuzeesigama.” 2716:27 Ma 22:8; Yos 2:8Mu ssabo mwalimu ekibiina kinene eky’abasajja n’abakazi nga mulimu n’abakulembeze bonna ab’Abafirisuuti. Ne waggulu ku kasolya kwaliko abantu ng’enkumi ssatu abaali batunuulira Samusooni ng’abasanyusaamu. 2816:28 a Bal 15:18 b Yer 15:15Awo Samusooni n’asaba eri Mukama ng’agamba nti, “Mukama Katonda onzijukire kaakano, ompe amaanyi. Omulundi guno gwokka, ayi Katonda mpalane eggwanga ku Bafirisuuti olw’amaaso gange abiri.” 29Samusooni n’akwata empagi zombi ezaali wakati mu ssabo we yali ayimiridde, n’azeesigamako, omukono gwe ogwa ddyo nga guli ku mpagi emu, n’omukono ogwa kkono nga guli ku ndala. 30Samusooni n’ayogera nti, “Leka nfiire wamu n’Abafirisuuti.” N’asindika n’amaanyi ge gonna, essabo ne ligwa ku bakulembeze, n’abantu bonna abaalimu naye, era n’atta bangi mu kufa kwe okusinga ne be yatta nga mulamu.

3116:31 a Bal 13:2 b Lus 1:1; 1Sa 4:18 c Bal 15:20Awo baganda be n’ennyumba yonna eya kitaawe ne bagenda ne baggyayo omulambo gwe, ne bagutwala ewaabwe, ne bamuziika mu ntaana ya kitaawe Manowa eyali wakati w’e Zola ne Esutaoli. Yali akulembedde Isirayiri okumala emyaka amakumi abiri.