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 assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.
2 This is why the ancients were commended.
Because of their faith, the people of old were commended.
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 universe was formed by the word of God. Consequently, we know that what can be seen did not come from anything visible. (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 better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
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 Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death, and he was not to be found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken, he was commended as one who 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.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly 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 Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, was moved with reverent fear and built an ark to save his household. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes 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 Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
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 sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder 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 Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, and she bore a child when she was beyond the proper age, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
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.
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.
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 people died in faith without receiving the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance and welcomed them. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had an opportunity 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.
Instead, they were longing for a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
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 tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his one and only son,
18 even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.”
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
He reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead. And figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
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, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
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 his end was near, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions 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 hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they did not fear the decree of the king.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
He considered the reproach of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was focused on 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 wrath of the king, for he endured as though he could see him who 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 Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the Israelites.
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 on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
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 after they had been encircled for 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 prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in 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 more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, 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, carried out 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 power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed 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 back their dead by resurrection. Other people were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
Others endured mocking and flogging, as well as chains and imprisonment.
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 sawn in two, they were tempted, and they were killed with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.
38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
All these people were commended for their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.
40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
For God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
