2 Chronicles 14

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Asa did what Yahweh his God regards as good and right.	1 Asa did what was good and pleasing to the LORD, his God,
2 He abolished the foreign altars and the high places, broke the pil ars, cut down the sacred poles,	2 removing the heathen altars and the high places, breaking to pieces the sacred pillars, and cutting down the sacred poles.
3 and urged Judah to seek Yahweh, God of their ancestors, and to observe the law and commandment.	3 He commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to observe the law and its commands.
4 Because he abolished the high places and incense altars through the towns of Judah, the kingdomunder him was undisturbed.	4 He removed the high places and incense stands from all the cities of Judah, and under him the kingdom had peace.
5 He rebuilt the fortified towns of Judah, since the country was at peace and free of war during thoseyears, because Yahweh had granted him peace.	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.
6 'Let us rebuild these towns,' he told Judah, 'let us surround them with wal and tower, with gate andbar while the country is still ours, for we have sought Yahweh our God and he has sought us and given us peaceal around.' They built and prospered.	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.
7 Asa had an army of three hundred thousand men of Judah armed with shields and spears and twohundred and eighty thousand men of Benjamin armed with shields and bows, al of them outstanding soldiers.	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.
8 Zerah the Cushite took the field against them with an army a mil ion strong and three hundredchariots, and penetrated to Mareshah.	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.
9 Asa took the field against him and the battle-lines were drawn up in the Valley of Zephathah, atMareshah.	9 Asa went out to meet him and set himself in battle array in the valley of Zephathah, near Mareshah.
10 Asa then cal ed on Yahweh his God and said, 'Yahweh, numbers and strength make no difference toyou when you give your help. Help us, Yahweh our God, for, relying on you, we are confronting this horde inyour name. Yahweh, you are our God. Human strength cannot prevail against you!'	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."
11 Yahweh routed the Cushites before Asa and Judah. The Cushites fled,	11 And so the LORD defeated the Ethiopians before Asa and Judah, and they fled.
12 and Asa pursued them with his army as far as Gerar. So many of the Cushites fel that they wereunable to survive. They were cut to pieces by Yahweh and his army. They carried off a great deal of booty,	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.
13 they destroyed al the towns round Gerar -- for a panic from Yahweh had seized the towns -- andplundered all the towns since they were ful of loot.	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.
14 They also routed the cattle-owners and carried off great numbers of sheep and camels; then theyreturned to Jerusalem.	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.