2 Chronicles, 14

1. Asa did what was good and pleasing to the LORD, his God,

1. Asa did what Yahweh his God regards as good and right.

2. removing the heathen altars and the high places, breaking to pieces the sacred pillars, and cutting down the sacred poles.

2. He abolished the foreign altars and the high places, broke the pillars, cut down the sacred poles,

3. He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and its commands.

3. and urged Judah to seek Yahweh, God of their ancestors, and to observe the law and commandment.

4. He removed the high places and incense stands from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom had peace.

4. Because he abolished the high places and incense altars through the towns of Judah, the kingdom under him was undisturbed.

5. He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had peace and no war was waged against him during these years, because the LORD had given him peace.

5. He rebuilt the fortified towns of Judah, since the country was at peace and free of war during those years, because Yahweh had granted him peace.

6. He said to Judah: "Let us build these cities and surround them with walls, towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, for we have sought the LORD, our God; we sought him, and he has given us rest on every side." So they built and prospered.

6. 'Let us rebuild these towns,' he told Judah, 'let us surround them with wall and tower, with gate and bar while the country is still ours, for we have sought Yahweh our God and he has sought us and given us peace all around.' They built and prospered.

7. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand shield-and lance-bearers from Judah, and two hundred and eighty thousand from Benjamin who carried bucklers and were archers, all of them valiant warriors.

7. Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men of Judah armed with shields and spears and two hundred and eighty thousand men of Benjamin armed with shields and bows, all of them outstanding soldiers.

8. Zerah the Ethiopian moved against them with a force of one million men and three hundred chariots, and he came as far as Mareshah.

8. Zerah the Cushite took the field against them with an army a million strong and three hundred chariots, and penetrated to Mareshah.

9. Asa went out to meet him and set himself in battle array in the valley of Zephathah, near Mareshah.

9. Asa took the field against him and the battle-lines were drawn up in the Valley of Zephathah, at Mareshah.

10. Asa called upon the LORD, his God, praying: "O LORD, there is none like you to help the powerless against the strong. Help us, O LORD, our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. You are the LORD, our God; let no man prevail against you."

10. Asa then called on Yahweh his God and said, 'Yahweh, numbers and strength make no difference to you when you give your help. Help us, Yahweh our God, for, relying on you, we are confronting this horde in your name. Yahweh, you are our God. Human strength cannot prevail against you!'

11. And so the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and they fled.

11. Yahweh routed the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,

12. Asa and those with him pursued them as far as Gerar, and the Ethiopians fell until there were no survivors, for they were crushed before the LORD and his army, which carried away enormous spoils.

12. and Asa pursued them with his army as far as Gerar. So many of the Cushites fell that they were unable to survive. They were cut to pieces by Yahweh and his army. They carried off a great deal of booty,

13. Then the Judahites conquered all the cities around Gerar, for the fear of the LORD was upon them; they despoiled all the cities, for there was much booty in them.

13. they destroyed all the towns round Gerar -- for a panic from Yahweh had seized the towns -- and plundered all the towns since they were full of loot.

14. They attacked also the tents of the cattle-herders and carried off a great number of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.

14. They also routed the cattle-owners and carried off great numbers of sheep and camels; then they returned to Jerusalem.