2 Imilando 14

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

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 UAsa wasesenza okuhle lokulungileyo emehlweni eNkosi uNkulunkulu wakhe.

Asa did that which was good and right in the LORD his God’s eyes,

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

for he took away the foreign altars and the high places, broke down the pillars, cut down the Asherah poles,

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

and commanded Judah to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, and to obey his law and command.

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

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

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 Wasesithi kuJuda: Asiyakheni limizi, siyizingelezele ngemiduli, lemiphotshongo, amasango, lemigoqo, ilizwe lisesephambi kwethu; ngoba siyidingile iNkosi uNkulunkulu wethu, siyidingile, yasinika ukuthula inhlangothi zonke. Basebesakha, baphumelela.

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 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.

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

Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million troops and three hundred chariots, and he came to Mareshah.

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

Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.

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.

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

So the LORD struck the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah; 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.

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

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

They also struck the tents of those who had livestock, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, then returned to Jerusalem.