She made him go to sleep on her lap ¹  and then called a man in to shave off ²  the seven braids of his hair. ³  She made him vulnerable ⁴  and his strength left him.

Now it’s your turn to listen to your servant! Let me set before you a bit of bread so that you can eat. When you regain your strength, you can go on your way.”

For this is what the master, the Lord, the Holy One of Israel says: “If you repented and patiently waited for me, you would be delivered; ¹  if you calmly trusted in me you would find strength, ²  but you are unwilling.

Then I said, ¹  “Lord, you give me strength and protect me. You are the one I can run to for safety when I am in trouble. ²  Nations from all over the earth will come to you and say, ‘Our ancestors had nothing but false gods – worthless idols that could not help them at all. ³ 

He will assume his post ¹  and shepherd the people ²  by the Lord’s strength, by the sovereign authority of the Lord his God. ³  They will live securely, ⁴  for at that time he will be honored ⁵  even in the distant regions of ⁶  the earth.

The sovereign Lord is my source of strength. ¹  He gives me the agility of a deer; ²  he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. ³  (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.) ⁴ 

When Jacob was told, ¹  “Your son Joseph has just ²  come to you,” Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed.

God has decreed that you will be powerful. ¹  O God, you who have acted on our behalf, demonstrate your power,

Your claim to have a strategy and military strength is just empty talk. ¹  In whom are you trusting, that you would dare to rebel against me?

God brought them ¹  out of Egypt. They have, as it were, the strength of a wild bull. ² 

Then David and the men ¹  who were with him wept loudly ²  until they could weep no more. ³ 

Indeed, God is mighty; and he does not despise people, ¹  he ²  is mighty, and firm ³  in his intent. ⁴ 

Would your wealth ¹  sustain you, so that you would not be in distress, ²  even all your mighty efforts? ³ 

You will free me ¹  from the net they hid for me, for you are my place of refuge.

You are the God who does amazing things; you have revealed your strength among the nations.

He allowed the symbol of his strong presence to be captured; ¹  he gave the symbol of his splendor ²  into the hand of the enemy. ³ 

lest strangers devour ¹  your strength, ²  and your labor ³  benefit ⁴  another man’s house.

So I said, “My endurance has expired; I have lost all hope of deliverance ¹  from the Lord.”

They sweep by like the wind and pass on. ¹  But the one who considers himself a god will be held guilty.” ² 

I am able to do all things ¹  through the one ²  who strengthens me.