| English Standard Version | New Living Translation |
| 1Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. | 1 When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years. |
| 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God. | 2 Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 3He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim | 3He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. |
| 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. | 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands. |
| 5He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. | 5Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace. |
| 6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. | 6During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies. |
| 7And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the LORD our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. | 7Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion. |
| 8And Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, armed with large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin that carried shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valor. | 8King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men. |
| 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as Mareshah. | 9Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah, |
| 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah. |
| 11And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” | 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” |
| 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled. |
| 13Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until none remained alive, for they were broken before the LORD and his army. The men of Judah carried away very much spoil. | 13Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the LORD and his army, and the army of Judah carried off a vast amount of plunder. |
| 14And they attacked all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. | 14While they were at Gerar, they attacked all the towns in that area, and terror from the LORD came upon the people there. As a result, a vast amount of plunder was taken from these towns, too. |
| 15And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the camps of herdsmen and captured many sheep, goats, and camels before finally returning to Jerusalem. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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