^17 (A)He will go out into battle determined to defeat his enemies, and use the creation itself as a weapon. ¹⁸ Righteousness will be his armor, genuine justice will be his helmet, ¹⁹ holiness will be his invincible shield. ²⁰ He will sharpen his stern anger into a sword, and the forces of nature will join him in battle against those who are foolish enough to oppose him. ²¹ Bolts of lightning will strike right on target, as if the Lord had made a bow out of the clouds and was shooting arrows. ²² Hailstones will beat down on his enemies with terrible force. The oceans and rivers will come rushing over them in a devastating flood. ²³ Great windstorms will blow them away like straw. Lawlessness will be the ruin of the whole world. Evil actions will cause governments to fall.

^14 (A)So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate,

^17 (A)And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.

^8 (A)But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.