1 A nd Abijah lieth with his fathers, and they bury him in the city of David, and reign doth Asa his son in his stead: in his days was the land quiet ten years.

Abijah died and they buried him in the city of David. His son Asa became king in his place. In his days the land had peace ten years.

2 A nd Asa doth that which is good, and that which is right, in the eyes of Jehovah his God,

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

3 a nd turneth aside the altars of the stranger, and the high places, and breaketh the standing-pillars, and cutteth down the shrines,

For he put away the strange altars and high places. He tore down the pillars used in worship of false gods. And he cut down the false goddesses, the Asherim.

4 a nd saith to Judah to seek Jehovah, God of their fathers, and to do the law and the command;

He told Judah to follow the Lord God of their fathers, and to obey the Laws.

5 a nd he turneth aside out of all cities of Judah the high places and the images, and the kingdom is quiet before him.

He put the high places and the altars of special perfume away from all the cities of Judah. And the nation had rest under his rule.

6 A nd he buildeth cities of bulwarks in Judah, for the land hath quiet, and there is no war with him in these years, because Jehovah hath given rest to him.

He built strong cities in Judah, since the land had rest. No one fought a war with him during those years, because the Lord had given him rest.

7 A nd he saith to Judah, `Let us build these cities, and compass with wall, and towers, two-leaved doors, and bars, while the land before us, because we have sought Jehovah our God, we have sought, and He giveth rest to us round about;' and they build and prosper.

So he said to the people of Judah, “Let us build these cities. And let us build walls and towers around them, with iron gates. The land is still ours, because we have followed the Lord our God. We have followed Him, and He has given us rest on every side.” So they built and did well.

8 A nd there is to Asa a force bearing target and spear, out of Judah three hundred thousand, and out of Benjamin, bearing shield and treading bow, two hundred and eighty thousand: all these mighty of valour.

Asa had an army of 300, 000 men from Judah, with large battle-coverings and spears. And he had 280, 000 men from Benjamin, with battle-coverings and bows. All of them were powerful soldiers.

9 A nd come out unto them doth Zerah the Cushite with a force of a thousand thousand, and chariots three hundred, and he cometh in unto Mareshah,

Zerah the Ethiopian came out to fight against them with an army of 1, 000, 000 men and 300 war-wagons. He came as far as Mareshah.

10 a nd Asa goeth out before him, and they set battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

So Asa went out to meet him. They made themselves ready for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

11 A nd Asa calleth unto Jehovah his God, and saith, `Jehovah! it is nothing with Thee to help, between the mighty and those who have no power; help us, O Jehovah, our God, for on Thee we have leant, and in Thy name we have come against this multitude; O Jehovah, our God thou; let him not prevail with Thee -- mortal man!

Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one but You to help in the battle between the powerful and the weak. So help us, O Lord God. For we trust in You. In Your name we have come against these many people. O Lord, You are our God. Do not let any man win the fight against You.”

12 A nd Jehovah smiteth the Cushim before Asa, and before Judah, and the Cushim flee,

So the Lord began to destroy the Ethiopians in front of Asa and the people of Judah, and the Ethiopians ran away.

13 a nd Asa and the people who with him pursue them even to Gerar, and there fall of the Cushim, for they have no preserving, because they have been broken before Jehovah, and before His camp; and they bear away very much spoil,

Asa and the people with him went after them as far as Gerar. The Ethiopians were killed until none were left alive. They were destroyed before the Lord and His army. And they carried away many things that had belonged to the Ethiopians.

14 a nd smite all the cities round about Gerar, for a fear of Jehovah hath been upon them, and they spoil all the cities, for abundant spoil hath been in them;

Then they destroyed all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them. And they took everything of worth that was in the cities, for there was much left.

15 a nd also tents of cattle they have smitten, and they capture sheep in abundance, and camels, and turn back to Jerusalem.

They destroyed the tents of the animals. And they took away many sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.