Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now faith is being sure of the things hoped for and certain of things that are not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the universe was created by God's command, so that what is visible was not made out of things that were visible. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, and God spoke well of him because of his offerings, and by faith Abel 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 had this testimony, that he pleased God.
It was by faith that Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death. “He was not found, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, it was testified that he had pleased God.
6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Now without faith it is impossible to please him. For it is necessary that anyone coming to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
It was by faith that Noah, having been given a divine message about things not yet seen, with godly reverence built a ship to save his household. By doing this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
It was by faith that Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
It was by faith that he lived in the land of promise as a foreigner. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, 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 also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
It was by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren, that Abraham received ability to father a child. This happened even though he was too old, since he considered as faithful the one who had given the promise.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
Therefore, from this one man—and he was almost dead—were born descendants as many as the stars in the sky and as countless as sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
It was in faith that all these died without receiving the promises. Instead, after seeing and greeting them from far off, they admitted that they were foreigners and exiles on earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],
It was by faith that Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac. It was his only son whom he offered, he who had received the promises.
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
It was Abraham to whom it had been said, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be named.”
19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
Abraham reasoned that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead, and figuratively speaking, it was from them that he received him back.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
It was by faith that Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons. Jacob worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
It was by faith that Joseph, when his end was near, spoke of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt and instructed them about his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king's command.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
It was by faith that Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Instead, he chose to suffer with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while.
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
He reasoned that the disgrace of following Christ was greater riches than Egypt's treasures. For he was fixing his eyes on his reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
It was by faith that Moses left Egypt. He did not fear the king's anger, for he endured as if he were seeing the one who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
It was by faith that he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch the Israelites' firstborn sons.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
It was by faith that they passed through the Sea of Reeds as if over dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:
What more can I say? For the time will fail me if I tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and about the prophets.
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
It was through faith that they conquered kingdoms, worked justice, and received promises. They stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were healed of illnesses, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might experience a better resurrection.
36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Others had testing in mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins. They were destitute, oppressed, mistreated.
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.
The world was not worthy of them. They were always wandering about in the deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise.
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
God planned something better for us, so that without us, they would not be made perfect.
