2 Imilando 14

1 UAbhiya waselala laboyise, bamngcwabela emzini kaDavida. UAsa indodana yakhe wasesiba yinkosi esikhundleni sakhe. Ensukwini zakhe ilizwe laba lokuthula iminyaka elitshumi.

Then Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David. And his son Asa reigned in his place, and in his days the land was at peace for ten years.

2 UAsa wasesenza okuhle lokulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe.

And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

3 Ngoba wasusa amalathi awemzini lendawo eziphakemeyo, wadiliza insika eziyizithombe, wagamula izixuku.

He removed the foreign altars and high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and chopped down the Asherah poles.

4 Wasesithi kuJuda kabayidinge iNkosi, uNkulunkulu waboyise, lokuthi bagcine umthetho lomlayo.

He commanded the people of Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and the commandments.

5 Wasesusa kuyo yonke imizi yakoJuda indawo eziphakemeyo lamalathi okutshisela impepha. Lombuso waba lokuthula phambi kwakhe.

He also removed the high places and incense altars from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom was at peace.

6 Wasesakha imizi ebiyelweyo koJuda, ngoba ilizwe lalilokuthula, njalo kungelampi laye ngaleyominyaka, ngoba iNkosi yamphumuza.

Because the land was at peace, Asa built fortified cities in Judah. In those days no one made war with him, because the LORD had given him rest.

7 Wasesithi kuJuda: Asiyakheni limizi, siyizingelezele ngemiduli, lemiphotshongo, amasango, lemigoqo, ilizwe lisesephambi kwethu; ngoba siyidingile iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, siyidingile, yasinika ukuthula inhlangothi zonke. Basebesakha, baphumelela.

So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, with doors 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.

8 Njalo uAsa wayelebutho labazinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amathathu abavela koJuda, bethwele ihawu lomkhonto, labazinkulungwane ezingamakhulu amabili lamatshumi ayisificaminwembili abavela koBhenjamini bethwele isihlangu esikhulu benyathela idandili; bonke laba babengamaqhawe alamandla.

Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor.

9 UZera umEthiyophiya wasephuma ukumelana labo elebutho eliyinkulungwane yezinkulungwane lezinqola ezingamakhulu amathathu, wasefika eMaresha.

Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.

10 UAsa wasephuma ukumelana laye, bahlela impi esihotsheni seZefatha eMaresha.

So Asa marched out against him and lined up in battle formation in the Valley of Zephathah near Mareshah.

11 UAsa wasekhala eNkosini uNkulunkulu wakhe wathi: Nkosi, kakusilutho kuwe ukunceda, loba kwabanengi loba kwabangelamandla; sisize, Nkosi Nkulunkulu wethu, ngoba seyeme kuwe; njalo ngebizo lakho sizemelana lalelixuku; Nkosi, wena unguNkulunkulu wethu; umuntu kangakwehluli.

Then Asa cried out to the LORD his God: “O LORD, there is no one besides You to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on You, and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, You are our God. Do not let a mere mortal prevail against You.”

12 Ngakho iNkosi yawatshaya amaEthiyophiya phambi kukaAsa laphambi kukaJuda; amaEthiyophiya asebaleka.

So the LORD struck down the Cushites before Asa and Judah, and the Cushites fled.

13 UAsa labantu ababelaye baxotshana lawo kwaze kwaba seGerari; kwasekusiwa kumaEthiyophiya okokuthi kakwaze kwaba lokuvuseleleka kiwo, ngoba acotshodiswa phambi kweNkosi laphambi kwebutho layo. Basebemuka lempango enengi kakhulu.

Then Asa and his army pursued them as far as Gerar. The Cushites fell and could not recover, for they were crushed before the LORD and His army. So the people of Judah carried off a great amount of plunder

14 Basebetshaya yonke imizi ezingelezele iGerari, ngoba uvalo lweNkosi lwaluphezu kwayo. Basebephanga yonke imizi, ngoba kwakulempango enengi kiyo.

and attacked all the cities around Gerar, because the terror of the LORD had fallen upon them. They plundered all the cities, since there was much plunder there.

15 Basebetshaya lamathente ezifuyo, bathumba izimvu ezinengi lamakamela, babuyela eJerusalema.

They also attacked the tents of the herdsmen and carried off many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.