| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet 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 10 years. |
| 2And Asa did that which 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 took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: | 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 God of their fathers, and to do 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. |
| 5Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. |
| 6And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and 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 unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, 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 hath 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 men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valour. | 8Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin bearing regular shields and drawing the bow. All these were brave warriors. |
| 9And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. | 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. |
| 10Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. | 10So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. |
| 11And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. | 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. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You." |
| 12So the LORD smote 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. |
| 13And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; 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 Yahweh and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great supply of loot. |
| 14And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding 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 smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away 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. |
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