Samson and Delilah
1One day Samson went to Gaza, where 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 and lay in wait for him all night at the city gate. They made no move during the night, saying, ‘At dawn we’ll kill him.’
3But Samson lay there only until the middle of the night. Then he got up and took hold of the doors of the city gate, together with the two posts, and tore them loose, bar and all. He lifted them to his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.
4Some time later, he fell in love with a woman in the Valley of Sorek whose name was Delilah. 5The rulers of the Philistines went to her and said, ‘See if you can lure him into showing you the secret of his great strength and how we can overpower him so that we may tie him up and subdue him. Each one of us will give you eleven hundred shekels16:5 That is, about 13 kilograms of silver.’
6So Delilah said to Samson, ‘Tell me the secret of your great strength and how you can be tied up and subdued.’
7Samson answered her, ‘If anyone ties me with seven fresh bow-strings that have not been dried, I’ll become as weak as any other man.’
8Then the rulers of the Philistines brought her seven fresh bow-strings that had not been dried, and she tied him with them. 9With men hidden in the room, she called to him, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ But he snapped the bow-strings as easily as a piece of string snaps when it comes close to a flame. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.
10Then Delilah said to Samson, ‘You have made a fool of me; you lied to me. Come now, tell me how you can be tied.’
11He said, ‘If anyone ties me securely with new ropes that have never been used, I’ll become as weak as any other man.’
12So 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!’ But he snapped the ropes off his arms as if they were threads.
13Delilah 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 14and16:13,14 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 tightened it with the pin.
Again she called to him, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’ He awoke from his sleep and pulled up the pin and the loom, with the fabric.
15Then she said to him, ‘How can you say, “I love you,” when you won’t confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven’t told me the secret of your great strength.’ 16With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was sick to death of it.
17So he told her everything. ‘No razor has ever been used on my head,’ he said, ‘because I have been a Nazirite 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.’
18When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines, ‘Come back once more; he has told me everything.’ So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. 19After 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.16:19 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and he began to weaken And his strength left him.
20Then she called, ‘Samson, the Philistines are upon you!’
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.
21Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding corn in the prison. 22But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.
The death of Samson
23Now the rulers of the Philistines assembled to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate, saying, ‘Our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands.’
24When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying,
‘Our god has delivered our enemy
into our hands,
the one who laid waste our land
and multiplied our slain.’
25While they were in high spirits, 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, 26Samson 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.’ 27Now the temple was crowded with men and women; all the rulers of the Philistines were there, and on the roof were about three thousand men and women watching Samson perform. 28Then Samson prayed to the Lord, ‘Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes.’ 29Then Samson reached towards 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, 30Samson 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.
31Then 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 his father. He had led16:31 Traditionally judged Israel for twenty years.
Samusoni na Delila
116:1 Atiir 13:24; Kĩam 38:15Mũthenya ũmwe Samusoni nĩathiire Gaza, akĩona mũmaraya kuo. Agĩtoonya gwake nĩguo akome nake. 216:2 Josh 2:5; 1Sam 19:11Andũ a Gaza makĩĩrwo atĩrĩ, “Samusoni arĩ gũkũ!” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio magĩthiũrũrũkĩria handũ hau, makĩraara mamuohetie ũtukũ wothe kĩhingo-inĩ gĩa itũũra rĩu inene. Nao matiigana kwehera ho ũtukũ ũcio, nĩ ũndũ moigĩte atĩrĩ, “Rũciinĩ gwakĩa, nĩtũkaamũũraga.”
316:3 Josh 10:36Nowe Samusoni aakomire kuo nginya ũtukũ gatagatĩ. Agĩcooka agĩũkĩra akĩnyiita mĩrango ya kĩhingo gĩa itũũra rĩu inene, hamwe na itugĩ ciayo cierĩ, agĩcimunyanĩria na igera ciothe. Agĩciigĩrĩra ciande, agĩcitwara kĩrĩma-igũrũ kĩrĩa kĩngʼetheire Hebironi.
416:4 Kĩam 24:67Thuutha ũcio, nĩagĩire ũrata na mũndũ-wa-nja kũu gĩtuamba-inĩ gĩa Soreki na rĩĩtwa rĩake eetagwo Delila. 516:5 Josh 13:3; Thaam 10:7Nao aathani a Afilisti16:5 Bũrũri wa Afilisti warĩ wa ngwatanĩro ya matũũra matano, namo matũũra macio maathagwo nĩ aathani atano. magĩthiĩ kũrĩ we, makĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Rora kana wahota kũmũheenereria, akwĩre hitho ya hinya ũcio wake mũnene, na ũrĩa tũngĩmũkĩria hinya nĩguo tũmuohe, tũmũtoorie. O ũmwe witũ nĩagakũhe cekeri ngiri ĩmwe na igana rĩmwe cia betha.16:5 nĩ ta kilo 13”
616:6 Atiir 16:5-15Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Delila akĩĩra Samusoni atĩrĩ, “Njĩĩra hitho ya hinya waku mũnene, na ũrĩa ũngĩohwo na ũtoorio.”
7Nake Samusoni akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Mũndũ o na ũrĩkũ angĩĩnjoha na nga mũgwanja cia mwogothano itarĩ nyũmithie-rĩ, niĩ ngwaga hinya nduĩke o ta mũndũ ũngĩ o wothe.”
8Hĩndĩ ĩyo aathani a Afilisti makĩmũrehere nga mũgwanja iria itaarĩ nyũmithie, nake akĩmuoha nacio. 916:9 Atiir 16:12, 14Nao andũ mehithĩte thĩinĩ wa nyũmba-rĩ, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Samusoni, ũrĩ mũkore nĩ Afilisti!” Nowe agĩtuanga nga icio na ũhũthũ o ta ũrĩa rũrigi rũtuĩkaga rwahutia rũrĩrĩmbĩ rwa mwaki. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio hitho ya hinya wake ndĩamenyekire.
1016:10 Atiir 16:13Nake Delila akĩĩra Samusoni atĩrĩ, “Nĩũnduĩte mũndũ mũkĩĩgu; ũkaheenia. Ndagũthaitha njĩĩra kĩrĩa ũngĩohwo nakĩo.”
1116:11 Atiir 15:13Nake akĩmũcookeria atĩrĩ, “Mũndũ o na ũrĩkũ angĩnjoha wega na mĩhĩndo mĩerũ ĩtarĩ yahũthĩrwo, nĩngwaga hinya nduĩke o ta mũndũ ũngĩ o wothe.”
12Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Delila akĩoya mĩhĩndo mĩerũ na akĩmuoha nayo. Hĩndĩ ĩyo, andũ mehithĩte nyũmba thĩinĩ-rĩ, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Samusoni, ũrĩ mũkore nĩ Afilisti!” Nowe agĩtuanga mĩhĩndo ĩyo kuuma moko-inĩ make o ta ũrĩa angĩtuanga uthi.
13Delila agĩcooka akĩĩra Samusoni atĩrĩ, “Nginya rĩu ũkoretwo ũkĩndua mũndũ mũkĩĩgu, ũkaaheenia. Njĩĩra kĩrĩa ũngĩohwo nakĩo.”
Nake agĩcookia atĩrĩ, “Ũngĩogotha makundo maya mũgwanja ma njuĩrĩ ya mũtwe wakwa ndigi-inĩ, ũciigĩrĩre mũtambo-inĩ wa gũtuma taama na ũcirũmie na higĩ, niĩ nĩngwaga hinya nduĩke o ta mũndũ ũngĩ o wothe.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio rĩrĩa aakomete-rĩ, Delila akĩoya makundo mũgwanja ma njuĩrĩ cia mũtwe wake, agĩciogothania na ndigi, 1416:14 Atiir 16:9, 20na agĩcirũmia na higĩ.
Agĩcooka akĩmwĩta o rĩngĩ, akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Samusoni, ũrĩ mũkore nĩ Afilisti!” Nake Samusoni akĩarahũka toro, na akĩguucia higĩ ĩyo, o na mũtambo ũrĩa warĩ na ndigi.
1516:15 Atiir 14:16; Ndar 24:10Agĩcooka akĩmũũria atĩrĩ, “Wahota atĩa kuuga atĩ nĩũnyendete, rĩrĩa ũtangĩĩhoka? Rĩrĩ nĩ riita rĩa gatatũ ũnduĩte mũndũ mũkĩĩgu, na ndũrĩ wanjĩĩra hitho ya hinya ũcio waku mũnene.” 16Nĩ ũndũ wa ũrĩa aamũgiaga na akamũtindĩrĩra mũthenya o mũthenya, akĩmũnogia o nginya hakuhĩ gũkua.
1716:17 Mik 7:5; Ndar 6:2Nĩ ũndũ ũcio Samusoni akĩmwĩra maũndũ mothe. Akiuga atĩrĩ, “Mũtwe ũyũ wakwa ndũrĩ wenjwo nĩ ũndũ-rĩ, niĩ ndũire ndĩ Mũnaziri wamũrĩirwo Ngai kuuma rĩrĩa ndaciarirwo. Ingĩenjwo-rĩ, hinya wakwa no ũnjeherere, na njage hinya nduĩke o ta mũndũ ũngĩ o wothe.”
1816:18 Josh 13:3Na rĩrĩa Delila aamenyire atĩ nĩamwĩra maũndũ make mothe, agĩtũmanĩra aathani a Afilisti akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Cookai riita rĩngĩ rĩmwe, nĩ ũndũ nĩanjĩĩrĩte maũndũ mothe.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio aathani acio a Afilisti magĩcooka makuuĩte betha na moko. 1916:19 Thim 7:26-27Nake Delila agĩtũma Samusoni akome ciero-inĩ ciake, agĩĩta mũndũ ũmwe amwenje makundo mothe mũgwanja ma njuĩrĩ yake, nao makĩambĩrĩria kũmũtooria. Naguo hinya wake ũkĩmuuma.
2016:20 Ndar 14:42; 1Sam 16:14Hĩndĩ ĩyo akĩmwĩra atĩrĩ, “Samusoni, ũrĩ mũkore nĩ Afilisti!”
Nake agĩũkĩra kuuma toro, agĩĩciiria atĩrĩ, “Nĩnguuma nja o ta tene na ndĩĩribaribe, ndĩĩohore.” No rĩrĩ, ndaamenyete atĩ Jehova nĩamwehereire.
2116:21 Jer 47:1; Ayub 31:10; Isa 47:2Hĩndĩ ĩyo Afilisti makĩmũnyiita na hinya, makĩmũkũũra maitho na makĩmũikũrũkia Gaza. Makĩmuoha na mĩnyororo ya gĩcango, na makĩmũiga athĩage ngano arĩ kũu njeera. 22No rĩrĩ, njuĩrĩ ya mũtwe wake ĩkĩambĩrĩria gũkũra rĩngĩ, thuutha wa kwenjwo.
Gĩkuũ gĩa Samusoni
2316:23 1Sam 5:2; 1Maũ 10:10Na rĩrĩ, aathani a Afilisti makĩũngana nĩguo marutĩre Dagoni ngai yao16:23 Dagoni nĩyo yarĩ ngai nene ya Afilisti; Dagoni na Kĩhibirania nĩ kuuga “ngano.” igongona inene na makũngũĩre, makiugaga atĩrĩ, “Ngai iitũ nĩĩneanĩte Samusoni thũ iitũ, moko-inĩ maitũ.”
2416:24 Dan 5:4; 1Sam 31:9Rĩrĩa andũ maamuonire, makĩgooca ngai ĩyo yao makiugaga atĩrĩ,
“Ngai iitũ nĩĩneanĩte thũ iitũ moko-inĩ maitũ,
thũ ĩrĩa yathũkangirie bũrũri witũ na ĩkĩũraga andũ aitũ aingĩ.”
2516:25 Atiir 9:27; Esit 1:10Na rĩrĩa ngoro ciao ciacanjamũkĩte, makĩanĩrĩra makiuga atĩrĩ, “Rehei Samusoni nĩguo oke atũkenie.” Nĩ ũndũ ũcio makĩruta Samusoni njeera, nake agĩĩka maũndũ ma mathekania.
Rĩrĩa maamũrũgamirie gatagatĩ-inĩ ga itugĩ-rĩ, 26Samusoni akĩĩra ndungata ĩrĩa yamũnyiitĩte guoko atĩrĩ, “Njiga harĩa ingĩhota kũhutia itugĩ iria inyiitĩrĩire hekarũ, nĩgeetha ndĩtiiranie nacio.” 27Na rĩrĩ, hekarũ ĩyo yaiyũrĩte arũme na andũ-a-nja; na aathani othe a Afilisti maarĩ kuo, na nyũmba igũrũ kwarĩ na arũme na andũ-a-nja ta ngiri ithatũ meroreire Samusoni agĩĩka maũndũ ma kũmakenia. 2816:28 Atiir 15:18; Jer 15:15Samusoni akĩhooya Jehova, akiuga atĩrĩ, “Wee Mwathani Jehova, ndirikana. Wee Ngai, ndagũthaitha ũnjĩkĩre hinya o ihinda rĩngĩ rĩmwe, na ũreke ndĩĩrĩhĩrie kũrĩ Afilisti na igũtha rĩmwe nĩ ũndũ wa maitho makwa meerĩ.” 29Hĩndĩ ĩyo Samusoni akĩnyiita itugĩ icio cierĩ cia gatagatĩ iria ciarũgamĩtie hekarũ ĩyo. Agĩĩtiirania nacio, kĩmwe agĩkĩnyiita na guoko gwake kwa ũrĩo na kĩrĩa kĩngĩ na guoko gwake kwa ũmotho, 30Samusoni akiuga atĩrĩ, “Reke ngue hamwe na Afilisti!” Agĩcooka agĩcitindĩka na hinya wake wothe, nayo hekarũ ĩkĩgwĩra aathani acio hamwe na andũ othe arĩa maarĩ thĩinĩ wayo. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio akĩũraga andũ aingĩ agĩkua gũkĩra arĩa ooragire arĩ muoyo.
3116:31 Ruth 1:1; Atiir 15:20Nao ariũ a ithe na nyũmba yothe ya ithe magĩikũrũka makamũgĩĩre. Makĩmũkuua makĩmũinũkia na makĩmũthika gatagatĩ ga Zora na Eshitaoli mbĩrĩra-inĩ ya ithe Manoa. Nake aatirĩrĩire Isiraeli mĩaka mĩrongo ĩĩrĩ.
