Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the grounds of things, which are hoped for, and the euidence of things which are not seene.
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
2 For by it our elders were well reported of.
This is why the ancients were commended.
3 Through faith we vnderstand that the world was ordeined by the worde of God, so that the things which we see, are not made of things which did appeare. (aiōn g165)
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)
4 By faith Abel offered vnto God a greater sacrifice then Cain, by the which he obtained witnes that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by the which faith also he being dead, yet speaketh.
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.
5 By faith was Enoch translated, that he should not see death: neither was he found: for God had translated him: for before he was translated, he was reported of, that he had pleased God.
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.
6 But without faith it is vnpossible to please him: for he that commeth to God, must beleeue that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seeke him.
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.
7 By faith Noe being warned of God of the things which were as yet not seene, mooued with reuerence, prepared the Arke to the sauing of his housholde, through the which Arke hee condemned the world, and was made heire of the righteousnes, which is by faith.
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.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed God, to goe out into a place, which hee should afterward receiue for inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
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.
9 By faith he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange countrey, as one that dwelt in tents with Isaac and Iacob heires with him of the same promise.
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.
10 For he looked for a citie hauing a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 Through faith Sara also receiued strength to conceiue seede, and was deliuered of a childe when she was past age, because she iudged him faithfull which had promised.
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.
12 And therefore sprang there of one, euen of one which was dead, so many as the starres of the skie in multitude, and as the land of the sea shore which is innumerable.
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, and receiued not the promises, but sawe them a farre off, and beleeued them, and receiued them thankefully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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.
14 For they that say such things, declare plainely, that they seeke a countrey.
Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And if they had bene mindfull of that countrey, from whence they came out, they had leasure to haue returned.
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But nowe they desire a better, that is an heauenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a citie.
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.
17 By faith Abraham offered vp Isaac, when he was tryed, and he that had receiued the promises, offered his onely begotten sonne.
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,
18 (To whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seede be called.)
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 For he considered that God was able to raise him vp euen from the dead: from whence he receiued him also after a sort.
Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau, concerning things to come.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 By faith Iacob when he was a dying, blessed both the sonnes of Ioseph, and leaning on the ende of his staffe, worshipped God.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Ioseph when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel, and gaue commandement of his bones.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses when he was borne, was hid three moneths of his parents, because they sawe he was a proper childe, neither feared they the kings commandement.
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.
24 By faith Moses when he was come to age, refused to be called the sonne of Pharaohs daughter,
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 And chose rather to suffer aduersitie with the people of God, then to enioy the pleasures of sinnes for a season,
He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26 Esteeming the rebuke of Christ greater riches then the treasures of Egypt: for he had respect vnto the recompence of the reward.
He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 By faith he forsooke Egypt, and feared not the fiercenes of the king: for he endured, as he that sawe him which is inuisible.
By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he ordeined the Passeouer and the effusion of blood, least he that destroyed the first borne, should touche them.
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.
29 By faith they passed through the red sea as by drie land, which when the Egyptians had assayed to doe, they were swallowed vp.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walles of Iericho fell downe after they were copassed about seue dayes.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them which obeyed not, when she had receiued the spies peaceably.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would be too short for me to tell of Gedeon, of Barac, and of Sampson, and of Iephte, also of Dauid, and Samuel, and of the Prophets:
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 Which through faith subdued kingdomes, wrought righteousnesse, obteined the promises, stopped the mouthes of lions,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sworde, of weake were made strong, waxed valiant in battell, turned to flight the armies of the aliants.
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.
35 The women receiued their dead raised to life: other also were racked, and woulde not be deliuered, that they might receiue a better resurrection.
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 And others haue bene tryed by mockings and scourgings, yea, moreouer by bondes and prisonment.
Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were hewen asunder, they were tempted, they were slaine with the sworde, they wandred vp and downe in sheepes skinnes, and in goates skinnes, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented:
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.
38 Whom the world was not worthie of: they wandered in wildernesses and mountaines, and dennes, and caues of the earth.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And these all through faith obteined good report, and receiued not the promise,
These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
40 God prouiding a better thing for vs, that they without vs should not be made perfite.
God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
