¹⁷ who were building the wall. The burden bearers carried their loads in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and with the other held a weapon.

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

³ Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

²⁸ and in no way frightened by those opposing you. For them, this is evidence of their destruction but of your salvation. And this is God’s doing.^(A)

¹¹ put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, ¹² for our^[a] struggle is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present^[b] darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.^{[c](A) 13} Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on the evil day and, having prevailed against everything, to stand firm.^{(B) 14} Stand, therefore, and belt your waist with truth and put on the breastplate of righteousness^{(C) 15} and lace up your sandals in preparation for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ With all of these,^[d] take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(D) 17} Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.^{(E) 18} Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.^{(F) 19} Pray also for me, so that when I speak a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,^{[e](G) 20} for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.^(H)

⁷ truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left;^(A)

Final Messages and Greetings

¹³ Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.^(A)

⁹ for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

¹² If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more?

Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.^(A)

²⁵ Know therefore and understand: from the time that the word went out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the time of an anointed prince, there shall be seven weeks, and for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with streets and moat, but in a troubled time.^(A)