# he does not carry the sword for no reason You can translate this in a positive form. Alternate translation: "he carries the sword for a very good reason" or "he has the power to punish people, and he will punish people" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-litotes]]) # carry the sword Roman governors carried a short sword as a symbol of their authority. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]]) # an avenger for wrath Here "wrath" represents the punishment people receive when they do evil deeds. Alternate translation: "a person who punishes people as an expression of the government's anger against evil" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metonymy]])