beat one's swords into ploughshares

Alternative forms

 * beat one's swords into plowshares

Etymology
From Isaiah 2:4 of the Bible.

Verb

 * 1)   To refrain from destructive military or paramilitary acts (war, terrorism, etc.) and put energy and resources to peaceful ends that would otherwise go to violence.
 * 2) * August 24, 2017, With careful tendering, Azim will fructify, in NewsDay (Zimbabwe)
 * Since 1987, Mugabe has been the President of the country. Here is a man, who, at independence, made us believe that we had beaten our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks only to torment Joshua Nkomo and his Zapu, as well as innocent civilians.
 * 1)  To convert military technologies to peaceful civilian applications.
 * Since 1987, Mugabe has been the President of the country. Here is a man, who, at independence, made us believe that we had beaten our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks only to torment Joshua Nkomo and his Zapu, as well as innocent civilians.
 * 1)  To convert military technologies to peaceful civilian applications.

Usage notes
Often accompanied with "and one's spears into pruning hooks"

Translations

 * Hungarian: ekevassá kovácsolja kardját, ekére cseréli a kardot
 * Russian: перекова́ть мечи́ на ора́ла