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,

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

^17 (A)He will wear justice like a coat of armor and saving power like a helmet. He will clothe himself with the strong desire to set things right and to punish and avenge the wrongs that people suffer.