Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the foundation of hoping, the evidence of events not being seen.
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 For by this the ancients were well reported.
For by it the saints of old won God's approval.
3 By faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by the word of God. For the things that are seen do not come to be from that which is visible. (aiōn g165)
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 By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, because of which he was reported to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through it, he who died still speaks.
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 By faith Enoch was transferred to not see death, and he was not found, because God transferred him. For before his removal he was reported to be pleasing to God.
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 And apart from faith it is impossible to please him. For he who comes to God must believe that he is, and becomes a rewarder of those who search for him.
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 By faith Noah, being divinely warned about things not yet seen, moved with awe, prepared an ark for the salvation of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness according to faith.
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 By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go out to the place that he was going to take for an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
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 By faith he lived alien in the land of promise as a foreigner, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of the same promise.
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 For he anticipated the city that has the foundations, whose builder and architect is God.
for he continually looked forward to the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power for conception of seed, and she gave birth beyond the time of age, because she considered him faithful who promised.
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 And therefore from one man, and these things having become deadened, were begotten as the stars of the heaven for multitude, and as the sand of the seashore, countless.
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 All these died in faith, not having taken the promises, but who saw and greeted them from afar, and who confessed that they were foreigners and sojourners on the earth.
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 For those who say such things show that they are seeking a fatherland.
for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own.
15 And if indeed they remembered that from which they came out, they would have had time to return.
And if they had cherished the remembrance of the country they had left, they would have found an opportunity to return;
16 But now they aspire for a superior one, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
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 By faith Abraham, being tested, offered Isaac. And he who received the promises offered his only begotten son,
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 about whom it was said, The seed by thee will be called in Isaac.
with regard to whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that your posterity shall be traced."
19 Having reckoned that God is able to raise up even from the dead, from where also, in a figure, he did receive him back.
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 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau about things coming.
Through faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even in connexion with things soon to come.
21 By faith Jacob, while dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed in worship upon the top of his staff.
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.
22 By faith Joseph, while perishing, remembered about the exodus of the sons of Israel, and commanded about his bones.
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 By faith Moses, after being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child well-formed, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
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 By faith Moses, having become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
Through faith Moses, when he grew to manhood, refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter's son,
25 having chosen rather to be mistreated with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin temporarily.
having determined to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin;
26 Having esteemed the vilification of the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he focused toward the recompense of reward.
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 By faith he forsook Egypt, not having feared the wrath of the king, for he persevered as seeing the invisible.
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 By faith he performed the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who was destroying the firstborn would not touch them.
Through faith he instituted the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land, of which the Egyptians, having taken an attempt, were drowned.
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 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, having been encircled for seven days.
Through faith the walls of Jericho fell to the ground after being surrounded for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot was not destroyed with those who were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them.
32 And what shall I say further? For the time would fail me telling about Gideon, also Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets,
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 who, through faith, conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions,
men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths,
34 quenched the force of fire, escaped the jaw of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, bowed down armies of aliens.
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 Women took hold of their dead from a resurrection, but others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, so that they might experience a superior resurrection.
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 And others took a trial of mockings and scourgings, and moreover of bonds and imprisonment.
Others again were tested by cruel mockery and by scourging; yes, and by chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawed apart, they were tempted, they died in murder by sword. They wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, restricted, tormented
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 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
(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 And all these, having been well reported through faith, did not receive the promise,
And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;
40 God having foreseen something superior concerning us, so that without us they would not be made fully perfect.
for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.
