| New American Standard Bible 1995 | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and his son Asa became king in his place. The land was undisturbed for ten years during his days. | 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. |
| 2Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, | 2Asa did what was good and right in the sight of the LORD his God. |
| 3for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, 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 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 undisturbed under him. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and the kingdom experienced peace under him. |
| 6He built fortified cities in Judah, since the land was undisturbed, and there was no one at war with him during 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. |
| 7For 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 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. |
| 8Now Asa had an army of 300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were valiant warriors. | 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. |
| 9Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. | 9Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million men and 300 chariots. They came as far as Mareshah. |
| 10So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation 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. |
| 11Then Asa called to the LORD his God and said, "LORD, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between the powerful and those who have no strength; so help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in You, and in Your name 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. Yahweh, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal hinder You." |
| 12So the LORD routed 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 so many Ethiopians fell that they could not recover, for they were shattered before the LORD and before His army. And they carried away very much plunder. | 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. |
| 14They destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD had fallen on them; and they despoiled 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. |
| 15They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep 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. |
| New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org | Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. |
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