Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen.
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.
2 For in [the power of] this the elders have obtained testimony.
Because of their faith, the people of old were commended.
3 By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [the] word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear. (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 to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.
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 translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before [his] translation he has the testimony that he had 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 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.
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, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which [is] according to 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, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not 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 sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the 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 waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is [the] artificer and constructor.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who 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 Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which [is] by the sea shore.
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 died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners 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 For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek [their] country.
For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;
If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had an opportunity to return.
16 but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.
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] tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten [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 as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.”
19 counting that God [was] able to raise [him] even from among [the] dead, whence also he received him in a figure.
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 things to come.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob [when] dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped 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] dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning 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, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king.
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 had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter;
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have [the] temporary pleasure of sin;
choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
26 esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense.
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 he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing 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 celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
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 they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up.
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, having been encircled for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.
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 do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David and Samuel, and of 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 by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths,
who by faith conquered kingdoms, carried out justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched [the] power of fire, escaped [the] edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made [the] armies of strangers give way.
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 their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, that they might get 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 and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment.
Others endured mocking and flogging, as well as chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated,
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 (of whom the world was not worthy, ) wandering in deserts and mountains, and [in] dens and caverns of the earth.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise,
All these people were commended for their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.
40 God having foreseen some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.
For God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
