And Abia slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead: in his days the land was quiet ten years.

Dormivit autem Abia cum patribus suis, et sepelierunt eum in civitate David: regnavitque Asa filius ejus pro eo, in cujus diebus quievit terra annis decem.

So Abia was laid to rest with his fathers, with the Keep of David for his burying-place, and the throne passed to his son Asa; for the first ten years of his reign, the land was at peace.

And Asa did that which was good and pleasing in the sight of his God, and he destroyed the altars of foreign worship, and the high places.

Fecit autem Asa quod bonum et placitum erat in conspectu Dei sui, et subvertit altaria peregrini cultus, et excelsa.

His was a life well lived, in obedience to the Lord’s will; altar and hill-shrine of alien worship he overthrew,

And broke the statues, and cut down the groves.

Et confregit statuas, lucosque succidit:

broke the images, cut down the forest sanctuaries,

And he commanded Juda to seek the Lord the God of their fathers, and to do the law, and all the commandments.

et præcepit Judæ ut quæreret Dominum Deum patrum suorum, et faceret legem, et universa mandata:

and bade Juda have recourse to the Lord, the God of their fathers, carrying out all his law enjoined.

And he took away out of all the cities of Juda the altars, and temples, and reigned in peace.

et abstulit de cunctis urbibus Juda aras et fana, et regnavit in pace.

No city in Juda but he rid it of altar and of shrine, and so he reigned in peace.

He built also strong cities in Juda, for he was quiet, and there had no wars risen in his time, the Lord giving peace.

Ædificavit quoque urbes munitas in Juda, quia quietus erat, et nulla temporibus ejus bella surrexerant, pacem Domino largiente.

And now, the Lord so blessing him with peace, his reign free from every alarm of battle, he set about fortifying the cities in his realm.

And he said to Juda: Let us build these cities, and compass them with walls, and fortify them with towers, and gates, and bars, while all is quiet from wars, because we have sought the Lord the God of our fathers, and he hath given us peace round about. So they built, and there was no hinderance in building.

Dixit autem Judæ: Ædificemus civitates istas, et vallemus muris, et roboremus turribus, et portis, et seris, donec a bellis quieta sunt omnia, eo quod quæsierimus Dominum Deum patrum nostrorum, et dederit nobis pacem per gyrum. Ædificaverunt igitur, et nullum in exstruendo impedimentum fuit.

Rebuild we these cities, he said to the men of Juda, and wall them about, making them fast with tower and bolt and bar, while we are still free from wars, and the Lord God of our fathers grants to us, his worshippers, a time of peace with our neighbours. So build they did, without let or hindrance.

And Asa had in his army of men that bore shields and spears of Juda three hundred thousand, and of Benjamin that bore shields and drew bows, two hundred and eighty thousand, all these were most valiant men.

Habuit autem Asa in exercitu suo portantium scuta et hastas de Juda trecenta millia, de Benjamin vero scutariorum et sagittariorum ducenta octoginta millia: omnes isti viri fortissimi.

Three hundred thousand men of Juda this Asa had in his army, that carried shield and spear, besides two hundred and eighty thousand men of Benjamin, armed with shield and bow, trained warriors all.

And Zara the Ethiopian came out against them with his army of ten hundred thousand men, and with three hundred chariots: and he came as far as Maresa.

Egressus est autem contra eos Zara Æthiops cum exercitu suo, decies centena millia, et curribus trecentis: et venit usque Maresa.

When Zara the Ethiopian marched in, and reached as far as Maresa, he had a million of fighting men and three hundred chariots to match against them.

And Asa went out to meet him, and set his army in array for battle in the vale of Sephata, which is near Maresa:

Porro Asa perrexit obviam ei, et instruxit aciem ad bellum in valle Sephata, quæ est juxta Maresa:

But Asa went to meet him, and offered battle in the valley of Sephata, close by Maresa.

And he called upon the Lord God, and said: Lord, there is no difference with thee, whether thou help with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our God: for with confidence in thee, and in thy name, we are come against this multitude. O Lord thou art our God, let not man prevail against thee.

et invocavit Dominum Deum, et ait: Domine, non est apud te ulla distantia, utrum in paucis auxilieris, an in pluribus. Adjuva nos, Domine Deus noster: in te enim, et in tuo nomine habentes fiduciam, venimus contra hanc multitudinem. Domine, Deus noster tu es: non prævaleat contra te homo.

And there he made his plea to the Lord God; It is all one to thee, Lord, be they few or many to whom thou wouldst bring thy aid. Help us now, O Lord our God; in thee, in thy name we put our trust, boldly offering battle to such hordes as these. Lord, thou art our own God; do not let man have the mastery of thee.

And the Lord terrified the Ethiopians before Asa and Juda: and the Ethiopians fled.

Exterruit itaque Dominus Æthiopes coram Asa et Juda: fugeruntque Æthiopes.

With that, the Lord struck terror into the Ethiopians as Asa and the men of Juda approached, so that they turned and fled;

And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them to Gerara: and the Ethiopians fell even to utter destruction, for the Lord slew them, and his army fought against them, and they were destroyed. And they took abundance of spoils,

Et persecutus est eos Asa, et populus qui cum eo erat, usque Gerara: et ruerunt Æthiopes usque ad internecionem, quia Domino cædente contriti sunt, et exercitu illius præliante. Tulerunt ergo spolia multa,

all the way to Gerara Asa and his men pursued them, till nothing was left of them; it was the Lord that smote them, his army that did battle against them; and rich were the spoils of that victory.

And they took all the cities round about Gerara: for a great fear was come upon all men: and they pillaged the cities, and carried off much booty.

et percusserunt civitates omnes per circuitum Geraræ: grandis quippe cunctos terror invaserat: et diripuerunt urbes, et multam prædam asportaverunt.

All the cities about Gerara, now overcome with terror, they conquered and plundered, carrying away their booty with them;

And they destroyed the sheepcotes, and took an infinite number of cattle, and of camels: and returned to Jerusalem.

Sed et caulas ovium destruentes, tulerunt pecorum infinitam multitudinem, et camelorum: reversique sunt in Jerusalem.

the sheep-folds, too, they broke down, and drove away sheep and camels in abundance. And so they returned to Jerusalem.