Hebrews 11
1 Now our trust in God is the guarantee of what we hope for, the evidence of what we can't see.
Now faith is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.
2 People who lived long ago trusted God and this is what gained them God's approval.
For by this, the people of old were attested.
3 Through our trust in God we understand that the whole universe was created by God's command, that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. (aiōn g165)
By faith, we understand that the ages were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. (aiōn g165)
4 By trusting him Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and as a result God identified him as someone who lived right. God showed this by accepting his offering. Even though Abel has been dead for a long time, he still speaks to us through what he did.
By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested as righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and though he died he still speaks through it.
5 By trusting God Enoch was taken to heaven so he didn't experience death. He couldn't be found on earth because God took him to heaven. Before this happened he was known as someone God was pleased with.
By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he would not see death, "and he was not found, because God took him away." For before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God.
6 You can't expect God to be pleased with you if you don't trust him! Anyone who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who are searching for him.
Now without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7 Noah trusted God, and was warned by him about things that had never happened before. Because Noah paid serious attention to what God said, he constructed an ark to save his family. By trusting God, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and received the reward of being set right by God.
By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared a box-shaped ship for the salvation of his household, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 Through trusting God Abraham obeyed when God called him to go to the land God was going to give him. He left, not knowing where he was going.
By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 Trusting in God he lived in the promised land—but as a foreigner, living in tents, together with Isaac and Jacob who shared with him in inheriting the same promise.
By faith, he sojourned in a land of promise, as a foreigner, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For Abraham was looking forward to a city built on foundations that last, with God as its builder and maker.
For he looked for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By her trust in God even Sarah herself was given the ability to conceive a child though she was too old, because she trusted God who had made the promise.
By faith, even barren Sarah herself received power to conceive when she was past age, and gave birth, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12 That is why the descendants of Abraham, (who was as good as dead!), became as numerous as the stars of heaven, as countless as the sand of the sea-shore.
Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
13 They all died still trusting in God. Though they didn't receive the things God promised, they were still looking for them as it were from a distance and welcomed them, acknowledging that on this earth they were foreigners, people just passing through.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.
14 People who say such things make it clear that they're looking for a country of their own.
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 For if they cared about the country they'd left behind, they could have returned.
If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16 But they're looking for a better country instead, a heavenly country. That is why God isn't disappointed with them, and is happy to be called their God, for he has built a city for them.
Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 Abraham trusted God when he was tested and offered Isaac to God. Abraham, who had accepted God's promises, was still ready to offer to God his only son,
By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;
18 even though he'd been told, “It's through Isaac that your descendants will be counted.”
even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your descendants be called;"
19 Abraham had thought it through and decided that God could bring Isaac back to life from the dead. In a sense that's what did happen—Abraham received Isaac back from the dead.
concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
20 Trusting in God, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to what the future would bring.
By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21 Trusting in God, Jacob as he was dying blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped God, leaning on his staff.
By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed over the top of his staff.
22 Trusting in God, Joseph too, when his own death approached, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites, and gave instructions about what to do with his bones.
By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 Trusting in God, Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They recognized he was a special child. They weren't afraid to go against what the king had commanded.
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 were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 Trusting in God, Moses, when he grew up, refused to be known as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter.
By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 Instead he chose to share in the sufferings of God's people rather than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin.
choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;
26 He counted the rejection he experienced from following Christ to be of far greater value than the wealth of Egypt—because he was focused on the reward to come.
considering the abuse suffered for the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 Trusting in God, he left Egypt and wasn't scared of Pharaoh's anger—he kept going with his eyes fixed on the invisible God.
By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Trusting in God he observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroying angel would not touch the Israelites.
By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
29 Trusting in God the Israelites crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do the same they were drowned.
By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30 Trusting in God, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell down.
By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 Trusting in God, Rahab the prostitute didn't die with those who rejected God, because she had welcomed the Israelite spies in peace.
By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32 What other examples should I give? I don't have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; about David, Samuel, and the prophets.
And what more should I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;
33 Because of their trust in God they conquered kingdoms, did what was good and right, received God's promises, shut the mouths of lions,
who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 put out blazing fires, escaped being killed by the sword, were weak but made strong, did mighty deeds in war, and routed enemy armies.
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
35 Women were given their dead family members back through resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to compromise and be pardoned, because they wanted to be part of a better resurrection.
Women received their dead by resurrection. And others were tortured, not accepting the payment for release, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Yet others suffered insults and whippings; they were put in chains and imprisoned.
Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 Some were stoned, cut in pieces, tempted, killed by the sword. Some dressed in sheepskins and goatskins: destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
They were stoned, they were sawed apart, they were put to the test, they were killed with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, mistreated
38 The world was not worthy to have such people who wandered in the deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 All of these people, even though they had God's approval, didn't receive what God had promised.
These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, did not receive the promise,
40 God has given us something even better, so that they can't be complete without us.
God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
