¹⁷ who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon^(A) in the other,

⁷ I have fought the good fight,^(A) I have finished the race,^(B) I have kept the faith.

³ Join with me in suffering,^(A) like a good soldier^(B) of Christ Jesus.

²⁸ without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.

¹¹ Put on the full armor of God,^(A) so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,^(B) but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(C) against the powers^(D) of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.^{(E) 13} Therefore put on the full armor of God,^(F) so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist,^(G) with the breastplate of righteousness in place,^{(H) 15} and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.^{(I) 16} In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,^(J) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(K) 17} Take the helmet of salvation^(L) and the sword of the Spirit,^(M) which is the word of God.^(N)

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit^(O) on all occasions^(P) with all kinds of prayers and requests.^(Q) With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying^(R) for all the Lord’s people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me,^(S) that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly^(T) make known the mystery^(U) of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador^(V) in chains.^(W) Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

⁷ in truthful speech^(A) and in the power of God;^(B) with weapons of righteousness^(C) in the right hand and in the left;

¹³ Be on your guard; stand firm^(A) in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^(B)

⁹ because a great door for effective work has opened to me,^(A) and there are many who oppose me.

¹² If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?

But we did not use this right.^(A) On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder^(B) the gospel of Christ.