Hebrews 11
1 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent.
NOW faith is the realizing confidence of the things hoped for, and the demonstration of things unseen:
2 For this reason, the ancients were given testimony.
for thereby the ancients obtained a testimony of approbation.
3 By faith, we understand the world to be fashioned by the Word of God, so that the visible might be made by the invisible. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the worlds were exactly formed by the word of God, so that the visible objects were not made out of things which now appear. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith, Abel offered to God a much better sacrifice than that of Cain, through which he obtained testimony that he was just, in that God offered testimony to his gifts. And through that sacrifice, he still speaks to us, though he is dead.
By faith Abel offered unto God a sacrifice of more excellence than Cain, by which he received a testimony that he was a righteous man, God bearing witness upon his gifts: and by this, though dead, he still speaketh.
5 By faith, Enoch was transferred, so that he would not see death, and he was not found because God had transferred him. For before he was transferred, he had testimony that he pleased God.
By faith Enoch was translated, so as not to see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he was recorded to have been acceptable to God.
6 But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever approaches God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.
But without faith it is impossible to be acceptable; for he must believe, who cometh unto God, that he exists, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
7 By faith, Noah, having accepted an answer about those things which were not yet seen, being afraid, fashioned an ark for the salvation of his house. Through the ark, he condemned the world, and was established as the heir of the justice that occurs through faith.
By faith Noah, being divinely warned respecting things not yet seen, filled with reverential awe, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
By faith Abraham, called to go forth unto a place which he should in future obtain as an heritage, obeyed; and he went forth, not knowing whither he was going.
9 By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
For he expected a city having foundations, of which God is the planner and architect.
11 By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised.
By faith also that very Sarah, who was barren, received ability for the conception of seed, and past the usual time of life brought forth a child, because she accounted that he who promised it, would be true to his promise.
12 Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a multitude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable.
Wherefore even from one person, and he become dead in respect to these matters, there sprang a race, as the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sand, which is on the shore of the sea, innumerable.
13 All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth.
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them at a great distance, though believing and embracing them, and confessing that they were strangers and sojourners in the land.
14 For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland.
Now they who speak thus, shew evidently that they are in earnest search of their native country.
15 And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time.
And if indeed they had fixed their minds on that from whence they had gone forth, they might have had opportunity to go back to it again.
16 But now they hunger for a better place, that is, Heaven. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them.
But now their longing desires are after a better country, that is, the heavenly one: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, so that he who had received the promises was offering up his only son.
By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promise, presented in sacrifice his only begotten son,
18 To him, it was said, “Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned,”
unto whom it had been said, “That by Isaac shall there be a seed bearing thy name:”
19 indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable.
reasoning that God was able to raise him up again, even from the dead; from whence also figuratively he had received him.
20 By faith, also, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future events.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau with regard to future things.
21 By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he reverenced the summit of his rod.
By faith, dying Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed down in adoration upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, as he was dying, recalled the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Joseph, approaching his end, made mention of the children of Israel’s departure thence; and gave a charge respecting his bones.
23 By faith, Moses, after being born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they had seen that he was a graceful infant, and they did not fear the king’s edict.
By faith Moses, after he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child singularly beautiful; and they were not intimidated by the command of the king.
24 By faith, Moses, after growing up, denied himself a place as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
By faith Moses, when he became a grown man, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, rather than to have the pleasantness of sin for a time,
choosing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to have a temporary fruition of sin;
26 valuing the reproach of Christ to be a greater wealth than the treasures of the Egyptians. For he looked forward to his reward.
esteeming the reproach of Christ riches greater than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked earnestly to the recompence of reward.
27 By faith, he abandoned Egypt, not dreading the animosity of the king. For he pressed on, as if seeing him who is unseen.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not intimidated by the wrath of the king: for he boldly persisted, as seeing the invisible Jehovah.
28 By faith, he celebrated the Passover and the shedding of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them.
By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.
29 By faith, they crossed the Red Sea, as if on dry land, yet when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up.
By faith they passed through the Red sea, as on dry ground; which the Egyptians attempting to do were swallowed up.
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being encircled for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after being circled round seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with the unbelievers, after receiving the spies with peace.
By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with those who were infidels, having received the spies in peace.
32 And what should I say next? For time is not sufficient for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the Prophets:
And what more shall I say: for the time would fail me if I should make a narration concerning Gideon, and Barac, and Sampson, and Jephtha, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets:
33 those who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions,
who by faith vanquished kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 extinguished the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, showed strength in battle, turned back the armies of foreigners.
extinguished the force of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, they were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in battle, routed the armies of aliens.
35 Women received their dead by means of resurrection. But others suffered severe punishment, not yet receiving redemption, so that they would find a better resurrection.
Women received by a resurrection their dead: but others were tortured, not accepting a release; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 Truly, others were tested by mocking and lashes, and moreover by chains and imprisonment.
and others had trials of mockeries and whippings, yea and farther of chains and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned; they were cut; they were tempted. With the slaughter of the sword, they were killed. They wandered about in sheepskin and in goatskin, in dire need, in anguish afflicted.
they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they experienced the severest trials, they were slain by the edge of the sword: they went about wrapped in skins of sheep and goats, destitute of all things, pressed down with afflictions, suffering all kind of misery;
38 Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth.
of whom the world was not worthy: they wandered up and down in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens, and caverns of the earth.
39 And all these, having been proven by the testimony of faith, did not receive the Promise.
And these all though having obtained a testimony by faith, received not the promise:
40 God’s Providence holds something better for us, so that not without us would they be perfected.
God having provided for us something better, that without us they should not attain to perfection.
