Hebrews 11
1 Now, faith is the confidence of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen.
Now faith is being sure of the things hoped for and certain of things that are not seen.
2 By this, the ancients obtained reputation.
For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith.
3 By faith, we understand that the worlds were formed by the word of God; so that the things which were 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 to God a better sacrifice than Cain, on account of which he was commended as righteous; God testifying in favor of his oblations: and so, by it, though dead he still speaks.
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 might not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for, before his translation, it was testified 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 God. For he who comes to God, must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who 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, when he received a revelation concerning things not yet seen, being seized with religious fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his family; by which he condemned the world, and became an 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 called to go out into a place which he should afterward receive as an inheritance, obeyed, and went out, not knowing whither he was going.
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 foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs 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 expected the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith, also, Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and brought forth, when past the time of life; 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 And, therefore, there sprang from one who was dead, in this respect, a race, as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is on 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 All these died in faith, not having received the promises. For, seeing the things promised, afar off, and embracing them, they confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims in the land.
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 Now they who speak such things, plainly declare that they earnestly seek a country.
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 For truly, if they had remembered that from which they came out, they might have had an opportunity to return it.
If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But, indeed, they strongly desired a better country; that is, a heavenly. Therefore, God is not ashamed of them--to be called their God; because he has 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 tried, offered up Isaac; he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten,
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 concerning 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 reasoning that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence, indeed, 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, with respect to things to come.
It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, bowing on 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 dying, made mention concerning 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 born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and 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 grown up, 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 evil with the people of God, than to have the temporary fruition of sin,
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 of Egypt; for he looked forward to the retribution.
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 left Egypt, not being afraid of the wrath of the king. For he courageously persevered, as perceiving the invisible God.
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 By faith, he appointed the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood; that he who destroyed the first-born, might not 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 attempting 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, having been encompassed seven days.
It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab, the harlot, was not destroyed with the unbelievers, having received the spies in 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 say more? for the time would fail me, to speak of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jepthah, and David, also, and Samuel, and 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 kingdom, 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 strength of fire, escaped the edges of the sword, grew strong from sickness, became valiant in battle, overturned the camps 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 by a resurrection, 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 mockings and scourgings; and, 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, they were tempted, they died by the slaughter of the sword, they went about in sheep skins, and in goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, maltreated;
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 these the world was not worthy: they wandered in deserts, and mountains, and in caves, and holes 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 Now, all these, though commanded on account of faith, did not receive the promise,
Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise.
40 God having provided something better 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.
