Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.
2 This is why the ancients were commended.
For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
For he looked for a city that hath foundations; whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,
12 And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.
14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered Isaac: and he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son;
18 even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
(To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.)
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
By faith also of things to come, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king’s edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao’s daughter;
25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,
26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.
27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them.
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.
32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.
36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.
37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:
38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;
40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.
