so you won't have to crouch among those in chains or fall among the slain? "Yet for all this, his anger has not turned away, and his hand is still stretched out, ready to strike."

Indeed, even if you defeated the entire Chaldean army that is fighting against you, and they had only wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn this city with fire.'"'"

persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed.

but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me.

Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies.

General references

"Take them alive, whether they've come in peace or not," he ordered.