| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 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 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. |
| 2Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God, | 2And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes 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 took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim |
| 4He commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandment. | 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. |
| 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 took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest 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. | 6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 9Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah. | 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and 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. | 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle in the Valley of Zephathah 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!” | 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.” |
| 12So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 15They also attacked the livestock enclosures, and carried off sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem. | 15And they struck down the tents of those who had livestock and carried away sheep in abundance and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | 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. |
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