| New King James Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years. | 1Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. During his reign the land experienced peace for ten years. |
| 2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God, | 2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 3for he removed the altars of the foreign gods and the high places, and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images. | 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles. |
| 4He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. | 4He told the people of Judah to seek the LORD God of their ancestors and to carry out the instruction and the commands. |
| 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom was quiet under him. | 5He also removed the high places and the shrines from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. |
| 6And he built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest; he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest. | 6Because the land experienced peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. No one made war with him in those days because the LORD gave him rest. |
| 7Therefore he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us, because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and prospered. | 7So he said to the people of Judah, "Let's build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God. We sought him and he gave us rest on every side." So they built and succeeded. |
| 8And Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah who carried shields and spears, and from Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand men who carried shields and drew bows; all these were mighty men of valor. | 8Asa had an army of three hundred thousand from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and two hundred eighty thousand from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were valiant warriors. |
| 9Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. | 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and three hundred chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. |
| 10So Asa went out against him, and they set the troops in battle array in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in Zephathah Valley at Mareshah. |
| 11And Asa cried out to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O LORD our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!” | 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: "LORD, there is no one besides you to help the mighty and those without strength. Help us, LORD our God, for we depend on you, and in your name we have come against this large army. LORD, you are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder you." |
| 12So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the LORD routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites fled. |
| 13And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So the Ethiopians were overthrown, and they could not recover, for they were broken before the LORD and His army. And they carried away very much spoil. | 13Then Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell until they had no survivors, for they were crushed before the LORD and his army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. |
| 14Then they defeated all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came upon them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was exceedingly much spoil in them. | 14Then they attacked all the cities around Gerar because the terror of the LORD was on them. They also plundered all the cities, since there was a great deal of plunder in them. |
| 15They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. | 15They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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