| New Living Translation | New American Standard Bible 1995 |
| 1 When Abijah died, he was buried in the City of David. Then his son Asa became the next king. There was peace in the land for ten years. | 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. |
| 2 Asa did what was pleasing and good in the sight of the LORD his God. | 2Asa did good and right in the sight of the LORD his God, |
| 3He removed the foreign altars and the pagan shrines. He smashed the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. | 3for he removed the foreign altars and high places, tore down the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherim, |
| 4He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and to obey his law and his commands. | 4and commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers and to observe the law and the commandment. |
| 5Asa also removed the pagan shrines, as well as the incense altars from every one of Judah’s towns. So Asa’s kingdom enjoyed a period of peace. | 5He also removed the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. And the kingdom was undisturbed under him. |
| 6During those peaceful years, he was able to build up the fortified towns throughout Judah. No one tried to make war against him at this time, for the LORD was giving him rest from his enemies. | 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. |
| 7Asa told the people of Judah, “Let us build towns and fortify them with walls, towers, gates, and bars. The land is still ours because we sought the LORD our God, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they went ahead with these projects and brought them to completion. | 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. |
| 8King Asa had an army of 300,000 warriors from the tribe of Judah, armed with large shields and spears. He also had an army of 280,000 warriors from the tribe of Benjamin, armed with small shields and bows. Both armies were composed of well-trained fighting men. | 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. |
| 9Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah, | 9Now Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men and 300 chariots, and he came to Mareshah. |
| 10so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah. | 10So Asa went out to meet him, and they drew up in battle formation in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. |
| 11Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God, “O LORD, no one but you can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O LORD our God, for we trust in you alone. It is in your name that we have come against this vast horde. O LORD, you are our God; do not let mere men prevail against you!” | 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." |
| 12So the LORD defeated the Ethiopians in the presence of Asa and the army of Judah, and the enemy fled. | 12So the LORD routed the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. |
| 13Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar, and so many Ethiopians fell that they were unable to rally. They were destroyed by the LORD and his army, and the army of Judah carried off a vast amount of plunder. | 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. |
| 14While they were at Gerar, they attacked all the towns in that area, and terror from the LORD came upon the people there. As a result, a vast amount of plunder was taken from these towns, too. | 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. |
| 15They also attacked the camps of herdsmen and captured many sheep, goats, and camels before finally returning to Jerusalem. | 15They also struck down those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem. |
| Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | 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 |
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