2 Imilando 14

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

And Abia died with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In the days of Asa the land of Juda had rest ten years.

2 UAsa wasesenza okuhle lokulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe.

And he did that which was good and right in the sight of the Lord his God.

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

And he removed the altars of the strange [gods], and the high places, and broke the pillars in pieces, and cut down the groves:

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

and he told Juda to seek earnestly the Lord God of their fathers, and to perform the law and commandments.

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

And he removed from all the cities of Juda the altars and the idols, and established in quietness

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

fortified cities in the land of Juda; for the land was quiet, and he had no war in these years; for the Lord gave 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.

And he said to Juda, Let us fortify these cities, and make walls, and towers, and gates, and bars: we shall prevail over the land, for as we have sought out the Lord our God, he has sought out us, and has given us rest round about, and prospered us.

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.

And Asa had a force of armed men bearing shields and spears in the land of Juda, [even] three hundred thousand, and in the land of Benjamin two hundred and eighty thousand targeteers and archers: all these were mighty warriors.

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

And Zare the Ethiopian went out against them, with a force of a million, and three hundred chariots; and came to Maresa.

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

And Asa went out to meet him, and set the battle in array in the valley north of Maresa.

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.

And Asa cried to the Lord his God, and said, O Lord, it is not impossible with you to save by many or by few: strengthen us, O Lord our God; for we trust in you, and in your name have we come against this great multitude. O Lord our God, let not man prevail against you.

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

And the Lord struck the Ethiopians before Juda; and the Ethiopians 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.

And Asa and his people pursued them to Gedor; and the Ethiopians fell, so that they could not recover themselves; for they were crushed before the Lord, and before his host; and they took many spoils.

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

And they destroyed their towns roundabout Gedor; for a terror of the Lord was upon them: and they spoiled all their cities, for they had much spoil.

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

Also they destroyed the tents of cattle, and the Alimazons, and took many sheep and camels, and returned to Jerusalem.