¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines^(A), “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands.^{(B) 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.^(C)

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

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.^(E)