2 Imilando 14
1 Ngakho u-Abhija waya kubokhokho bakhe wembelwa eMzini kaDavida. Indodana yakhe u-Asa wathatha isikhundla sakhe waba yinkosi, njalo ngezinsuku zokubusa kwakhe kwaba lokuthula elizweni okweminyaka elitshumi.
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 U-Asa wenza okuhle lokulungileyo phambi kukaThixo uNkulunkulu wakhe.
Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,
3 Wasusa wonke ama-alithare ezizweni lezindawo zokukhonzela, wadiliza izinsika zakhona lezithombe zikankulunkulukazi u-Ashera.
for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
4 Walaya abakoJuda ukuba bakhonze uThixo, uNkulunkulu wabokhokho babo, balandele yonke imithetho lemilayo yakhe.
and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
5 Wavala izindawo zokukhonzela lama-alithare empepha kuwo wonke amadolobho akoJuda, ngakho kwaba lokuthula ekubuseni kwakhe.
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 Wakha imizi ebiyelweyo koJuda, njengoba kwakulokuthula elizweni. Kakho owalwa impi laye ngaleyominyaka, ngoba uThixo wamnika ukuphumula.
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 Wathi kwabakoJuda, “Kasakheni imizi le siyizingelezele ngemiduli, lemiphotshongo, lamasango leminxibo. Ilizwe lilokhu lingelethu, ngoba simtholile uThixo uNkulunkulu wethu; simkhonzile usesilethele ukuthula inxa zonke.” Basebesakha njalo baphumelela.
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 U-Asa wayelamabutho empi azinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu koJuda, ayehlome ngamahawu amakhulu lemikhonto, lamanye azinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili alamatshumi ayisificaminwembili koBhenjamini, ayehlome ngezihlangu ezincinyane lamadandili. Wonke kungamadoda alezibindi zokulwa.
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 UZera umKhushi waphuma ebathukuthelele ephelekezelwa libutho elikhulu lezinqola zokulwa ezingamakhulu amathathu, waze wayafika eMaresha.
Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
10 U-Asa waphuma laye ukuyamjamela, bafika bajama eSigodini saseZefatha phansi kweMaresha.
Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 U-Asa wasekhuleka kuThixo uNkulunkulu wakhe wathi: “Thixo, kakho omunye onjengawe ongavikela ababuthakathaka kwabalamandla. Sisize, Oh Thixo Nkulunkulu wethu, ngoba thina sithembele kuwe, ngebizo lakho siphumile ukuba silwe lalelibutho lempi elikhulu kangaka. Oh Thixo, unguNkulunkulu wethu; umuntu angezake amelane lawe.”
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 UThixo wawatshaya wawabhuqa amaKhushi phambi kuka-Asa labakoJuda. AmaKhushi abaleka,
So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 kodwa u-Asa lamabutho akhe waxotshana lawo waze wayawafikisa eGerari. Kwafa amaKhushi amanengi okokuthi kasazange azame ukuqoqana kutsha; abhuqwa phambi kukaThixo laphambi kwamabutho akhe. Amadoda akoJuda atshuquluza impango enengi kakhulu.
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 Atshabalalisa yonke imizi yaseGerari, ngoba ukuthukuthela kukaThixo kwakuphezu kwayo. Atshuquluza yonke imizi ngoba impango yayinengi kuyo.
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 Ahlasela izihonqo zabelusi njalo abutha imihlambi yezimvu, imbuzi kanye lamakamela. Asebuyela eJerusalema.
They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.
