23. The Philistine rulers gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands.”
24. The people saw him and praised their god, for they said, “Our god has given into our handsour enemy,the one who ruined our landand killed many of us.”
25. When their hearts were merry, they said, “Call for Samson, so he can entertain us.” So they called for Samson from the prison, and he entertained them.They placed him between the pillars.
26. Samson said to the young man who held his hand, “Let me rest and touch the pillars on which the temple is set, then I can lean against them.”
27. The temple was full of men and women, and all the Philistine rulers were there. There were about three thousand men and women on the roof watching Samson entertain.
28. Samson called out to the Lord, “Lord God, remember me, I pray! Please strengthen me just this once, God, so that I may get full revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes!”
29. Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the temple was set and leaned against them, one with his right hand and one with his left.
30. Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” He pushed with all his strength, and the temple fell upon the rulers and all the people who were in it. At his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.
31. Then his brothers and all his family came down, carried him, brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the grave of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel for twenty years.