16:25 When they really started celebrating, 1 they said, “Call for Samson so he can entertain us!” So they summoned Samson from the prison and he entertained them. 2 They made him stand between two pillars. 16:26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand, “Position me so I can touch the pillars that support the temple. 3 Then I can lean on them.” 16:27 Now the temple 4 was filled with men and women, and all the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain. 16:28 Samson called to the Lord, “O Master, Lord, 5 remember me! Strengthen me just one more time, O God, so I can get swift revenge 6 against the Philistines for my two eyes!” 16:29 Samson took hold of the two middle pillars that supported the temple 7 and he leaned against them, with his right hand on one and his left hand on the other. 16:30 Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed hard 8 and the temple collapsed on the rulers and all the people in it. He killed many more people in his death than he had killed during his life. 9
1 tn Heb “When their heart was good.”
2 tn Heb “before them.”
3 tn Heb “the pillars upon which the house is founded.”
4 tn Heb “house.”
5 tn The Hebrew has אֲדֹנָי יֱהֹוִה (’adonay yehovih, “Lord Yahweh”).
6 tn Heb “so I can get revenge with one act of vengeance.”
7 tn Heb “the pillars upon which the house was founded.”
8 tn Heb “he stretched out with strength.”
9 tn Heb “And the ones whom he killed in his death were many more than he killed in his life.”