| English Standard Version | Christian Standard Bible |
| 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. | 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. |
| 2And Asa 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. |
| 3He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim | 3He removed the pagan altars and the high places. He shattered their sacred pillars and chopped down their Asherah poles. |
| 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to keep 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 took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. | 5He also removed the high places and the shrines from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. |
| 6He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the LORD gave him peace. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 9Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and came as far as 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. |
| 10And Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up their lines of battle 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 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: "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 defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. | 12So the LORD routed the Cushites before Asa and before Judah, and the Cushites 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 tents of the herdsmen and captured many sheep and camels. Then they returned 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. | The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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