^25-26 Half drunk by now, the people demanded, “Bring out Samson so we can have some fun with him!”

So he was brought from the prison and made to stand at the center of the temple, between the two pillars supporting the roof. Samson said to the boy who was leading him by the hand, “Place my hands against the two pillars. I want to rest against them.”

²⁷ By then the temple was completely filled with people. The five Philistine leaders were there as well as three thousand people in the balconies^[a] who were watching Samson and making fun of him.

²⁸ Then Samson prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord Jehovah, remember me again—please strengthen me one more time, so that I may pay back the Philistines for the loss of at least one of my eyes.”

²⁹ Then Samson pushed against the pillars with all his might.

³⁰ “Let me die with the Philistines,” he prayed.

And the temple crashed down upon the Philistine leaders and all the people. So those he killed at the moment of his death were more than those he had killed during his entire lifetime.