< 2 Nyakati 14 >
1 Abiya kalala pamoja na babu zake, na wakamzika kataika maji wa Daudi. Asa, mwanaye, akawa mfalme katika nafasi yake. Katika siku yake nchi ilikuwa na miaka kumi.
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 Asa alifanya yaliyomema na sahihi katika macho ya Yahwe Mungu wake,
Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,
3 kwa maana aliziondosha mbali madhabahu za kigeni na sehemu za juu. Akaziangusha chini nguzo za mawe na kuzikata nguzo za Maashera.
for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,
4 Akawaamuru Yuda kumtafuta Yahwe, Mungu wa babu zao, na kuzishika sheria na amri.
and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.
5 Pia akaziondosha mbali sehemu za juu na madhabahu za kufukiza kutoka miji yote ya Yuda. Ufalme ulikuwa na pumziko chini yake.
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 Akajenga miji ya ngome katika Yuda, kwa maana nchi ilikuwa tulivu, na hakuwa na vita katika miaka hiyo, kwa sababu Yahwe alikuwa amempa amani.
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 Kwa maana Asa aliwaambia Yuda, “Tuijenge miji hii na kuizungushia kuta, na minara, mageti, na makomeo; nchi bado yetu kwa sababu tumemtafuta Yahwe Mungu wetu. Tumemtafuta yeye, na ametupa amani katika kila upande.” Kwa hiyo walijenga na wakafanikiwa.
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 Asa alikuwa na jeshi ambalo lilibeba ngao na mikuki; kutoka Yuda alikuwa na wanaume 300, 000, na kutoka Benyamini, wanaume 280, 000 waliobeba ngao na kuvuta pinde.
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 Zera Mwethiopia akaja juu yao na jeshi la wanajeshi milioni moja na magari mia tatu; akaja Maresha.
Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.
10 Kisha Asa akatoka nje kukutana naye, na wakapanga mistari ya vita ya mapigano katika bonde la Sefatha huko Maresha.
Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11 Asa kamlilia Yahwe, Mungu wake, na akasema, “Yahwe, hakuna aliye kama wewe lakini ni wewe wa kumsaidia mtu asiye na nguvu anapokutana na mengi. Tusaidie, Yahwe, Mungu wetu, kwa maana tunakutegemea wewe, na katika jina lako tumekuja kupambana na idadi hii kubwa ya adui. Yahwe, wewe ni Mungu wetu; usimuache mtu akushinde.”
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 Kwa hiyo Yahwe akawapiga Waethiopia mbele za ASa na Yuda; Waethiopia wakakimbia.
So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13 Asa pamoja na wanajeshi waliokuwa pamoja naye wakawafukuza hadi Gerari. Kwa hiyo Waethiopia wengi wakajeruhiwa kiasi kwamba hawakuweza kupona, kwa maana waliangamizwa kabisa mbele za Yahwe na jeshi lake. Jeshsi likachukua mateka wengi sana.
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 Jeshi likaviangamiza vijiji vyote jirani na Garari, kwa kuwa hofu ya Yahwe ilikuwa imekuja juu ya wakaaji. Jeshi likateka vijiji vyote, na vilikuwa na hazina nyingi sana ndani yake.
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 Jeshi pia likaipiga hema ya makazi yawachungaji; wakabeba kondoo kwa wingi, ngamia vile vile, na kisha wakarudi Yerusalemu.
They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.