2 Chronicles 14

1 So 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.

So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in David’s city; and Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days, the land was quiet ten years.

2 And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,

3 for he took away the strange altars, and the high places, and brake down the pillars, and hewed down the Asherim;

for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,

4 and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

5 Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun-images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.

Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the sun images; and the kingdom was quiet before him.

6 And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.

He built fortified cities in Judah; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because the LORD had given him rest.

7 For he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars; 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.

For he said to Judah, “Let’s build these cities and make walls around them, with towers, gates, and bars. 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.

8 And Asa had an army that bare bucklers and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: an these were mighty men of valour.

Asa had an army of three hundred thousand out of Judah who bore bucklers and spears, and two hundred and eighty thousand out of Benjamin who bore shields and drew bows. All these were mighty men of valour.

9 And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an army of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and he came unto Mareshah.

Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

10 Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, there is none beside thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength: help us, O LORD our God; for we rely on thee, and in thy name are we come against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee;

Asa cried to the LORD his God, and said, “LORD, there is no one besides you to help, between the mighty and him who has no strength. Help us, LORD our God; for we rely on you, and in your name are we come against this multitude. LORD, you are our God. Don’t let man prevail against you.”

12 So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.

13 And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and there fell of the Ethiopians so many that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much booty.

Asa and the people who were with him pursued them to Gerar. So many of the Ethiopians fell that they could not recover themselves, for they were destroyed before the LORD and before his army. Judah’s army carried away very much booty.

14 And they smote all the cities round shout Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was much spoil in them:

They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD came on them. They plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them.

15 They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep in abundance and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.

They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.