希伯來書 11
1 德是所希望之事的擔保，是未見之事的確證。
Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.
2 因這信德，先人們都曾得了褒揚。
For by it the saints of old won God's approval.
Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. (aiōn g165)
4 因著信德，亞伯爾向天主奉獻了比加音因高貴的祭品；因著信德，因著信德，亞伯爾被褒揚為義人，因為有天主為衪的供品作證；因這信德，衪雖死了，卻仍發言。
Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.
5 因著信德，哈諾客被接去了，叫他不見死亡，世人也找不著他了，因為天主已將他接去；原來被接去之前，已有了中悅天主的明證
Through faith Enoch was taken from the earth so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken we have evidence that he truly pleased God.
6 沒有信德是不可能中悅天主的因為凡接近天主的人，應該信衪存在，且信衪對信衪的人是賞報者。
But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him.
7 因著信德，諾厄對尚未見得的事得了啟示，懷著敨畏製造了方舟，為自己的家庭；因著信德，衪定了世界的罪，且成了由信德得正義的承繼者。
Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on faith.
8 因著信德，亞巴郎一蒙召選，就聽命往他將要承受為產業的地方去了：他出走時，還不知道要到那裏去。
Through faith Abraham, upon being called to leave home and go into a land which he was soon to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going to.
9 因著信德，他旅居在所應許的地域，好像是在外邦，與有同樣恩許的承繼人依撒格和雅各伯寄居在帳幕內，
Through faith he came and made his home for a time in a land which had been promised to him, as if in a foreign country, living in tents together with Isaac and Jacob, sharers with him in the same promise;
10 因為他期待著那有堅固基礎的城，此城的工程師和建築師是天主。
for he continually looked forward to the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 因著信德，連石女撒辣雖然過了適當的年齡，也蒙受了懷孕生子的能力，因為她相信那應許者是忠信的。
Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful who had given the promise.
12 為此由一個人，且是由一個已近於死的人，生了子孫，有如天上的星辰那麼多，又如海岸上的沙粒那麼不可勝數。
And thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars of the sky in number, and like the sands on the sea shore which cannot be counted.
13 這些人都懷著信德死了，沒有獲得所恩許的，只由遠處觀望，表示歡迎明認自己在世上只是外方人和旅客。
All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;
14 的確，那些說這樣話的人，表示自己是在尋求一個家鄉。
for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own.
15 如果他們是懷念所離開的家鄉，他們還有返回的機會；
And if they had cherished the remembrance of the country they had left, they would have found an opportunity to return;
16 其實他們如今所渴望的，實是一個更美麗的家鄉，即天上的家鄉。為此，天主自稱是他們的天主，不以他們為羞恥，因為衪已給他們準備了一座城。
but, as it is, we see them eager for a better land, that is to say, a heavenly one. For this reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has now prepared a city for them.
17 因著信德，亞巴郎在受試探的時候，獻上了依撒格，就是那承受了恩許的人，獻上了自己的獨生子；
Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son
18 原來天主曾向他說過：『只有由依撒格所生的，才稱為你的後裔。』
with regard to whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that your posterity shall be traced."
19 他想天主也有使人從死者中復活的能力，為此他又把依撒格得了回來以作預像。
For he reckoned that God is even able to raise a man up from among the dead, and, figuratively speaking, it was from among the dead that he received Isaac again.
20 因著信德，依撒格也關於未來的事是有福的，因為祝福了雅各伯和厄撒烏。
Through faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even in connexion with things soon to come.
21 因著信德，臨死的雅各伯祝福了若瑟的每一個兒子，也扶著若瑟的扙頭朝拜了天主。
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.
22 因著信德，臨終的若瑟提及以色列子民出離埃及的事，並對他自己的骨骸有所吩咐。
Through faith Joseph, when he was near his end, made mention of the departure of the descendants of Israel, and gave orders about his own body.
23 因著信德，梅瑟一誕生就被他父母隱藏了三個月，因為他們見嬰孩俊美，便不怕君王的諭令。
Through faith the child Moses was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw his rare beauty; and the king's edict had no terror for them.
24 因著信德，梅瑟長大以後，拒絕被稱為法郎公主的兒子，
Through faith Moses, when he grew to manhood, refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter's son,
25 他寧願同天主的百姓一起受苦，也不願有犯罪的暫時享受，
having determined to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin;
26 因為他以默西亞的恥辱比埃及的寶藏更為寶貴，因為他所注目的是天主的賞報。
because he deemed the reproaches which he might meet with in the service of the Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his gaze on the coming reward.
27 因著信德，他不害怕君王的憤怒，而離開了埃及，因為他好像看見了那看不見的一位，而堅定不移。
Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king's anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.
28 因著信德，他舉行了逾越節，行了灑血禮，免得那消滅首生者觸犯以色列子民的首生者。
Through faith he instituted the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.
29 因著信德，他們渡過了紅海，如過旱地；埃及人一嘗試，就被淹沒了。
Through faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing over dry land, but the Egyptians, when they tried to do the same, were swallowed up.
30 因著信德，耶利哥城牆，被繞行七天之後，就倒塌了。
Through faith the walls of Jericho fell to the ground after being surrounded for seven days.
31 因著信德，妓女辣哈布平安地接待了偵探，沒有同抗命的人一起滅亡。
Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them.
32 此外，我還說什麼呢﹖我的確沒有足夠時間再論述基德紅、巴辣克、三松、依弗大、達味和撒慕爾以及眾先知的事：
And why need I say more? For time will fail me if I tell the story of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and of David and Samuel and the Prophets;
33 他們藉著信德征服列國，執行正義，得到恩許，杜往獅子的口，
men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths,
34 熄滅烈火的威力，逃脫利劍，轉弱為強，成為戰爭中的英雄，擊潰外國的軍隊。
deprived fire of its power, escaped being killed by the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight foreign armies.
35 有些女人得了她們的復活，有些人受了酷刑拷打，不願接受釋放，為獲得更好的復活；
Women received back their dear ones alive from the dead; and others were put to death with torture, refusing the deliverance offered to them--that they might secure a better resurrection.
36 另有些人受了淩辱和鞭打，甚至鎖押和監禁，
Others again were tested by cruel mockery and by scourging; yes, and by chains and imprisonment.
37 被石頭砸死，被鋸死死，被拷問，被利劍殺死，披著山羊皮到處流浪，受貧乏，受磨難，受虐待。
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried by temptation, they were killed with the sword. They went from place to place in sheepskins or goatskins, enduring want, oppression and cruelty.
38 世界原配不上他們，他們遂在曠野、山嶺、山洞和地中穴中漂流無定。
(They were men of whom the world was not worthy.) They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 這一切人雖然因著信德獲得了褒揚，但是沒有獲得恩許的，
And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;
40 因為天主早己為我們預備了一種更好的事，以致若沒有我們，他們決得不到成全。
for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.
