Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see.
Faith is the realisation of things hoped for — the proof of things not seen.
2 For by this, the people of old were attested.
And it was for faith that the men of old were renowned.
3 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)
Faith enables us to perceive that the universe was created at the bidding of God — so that we know that what we see was not made out of visible things. (aiōn g165)
4 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.
Faith made the sacrifice which Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain’s, and won him renown as a righteous man, God himself establishing his renown by accepting his gifts; and it is by the example of his faith that Abel, though dead, still speaks.
5 By faith, Hanoch 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.
Faith led to Enoch’s removal from earth, that he might not experience death. ‘He could not be found because God had removed him.’ For, before his removal, he was renowned as having pleased God;
6 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.
but without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who seek for him.
7 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.
It was faith that enabled Noah, after he had received the divine warning about what could not then be foreseen, to build, in reverent obedience, an ark in which to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world, and became possessed of that righteousness which follows upon faith.
8 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.
It was faith that enabled Abraham to obey the Call that he received, and to set out for the place which he was afterwards to obtain as his own; and he set out not knowing where he was going.
9 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.
It was faith that made him go to live as an emigrant in the Promised Land — as in a strange country — living there in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who shared the promise with him.
10 For he looked for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
For he was looking for the City with the sure foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 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.
Again, it was faith that enabled Sarah to conceive (though she was past the age for child-bearing), because she felt sure that he who had given her the promise would not fail her.
12 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.
And so from one man — and that when his powers were dead — there sprang a people as numerous ‘as the stars in the heavens or the countless grains of sand upon the shore.’
13 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 foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.
All these died sustained by faith. They did not obtain the promised blessings, but they saw them from a distance and welcomed the sight, and they acknowledged themselves to be only aliens and strangers on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
Those who speak thus show plainly that they are seeking their fatherland.
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
If they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they could have found opportunities to return.
16 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.
But no, they were longing for a better, a heavenly, land! And therefore God was not ashamed to be called their God; indeed he had already prepared them a city.
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;
It was faith that enabled Abraham, when put to the test, to offer Isaac as a sacrifice — he who had received the promises offering up his only son,
18 even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your descendants be called;"
of whom it had been said — ‘It is through Isaac that there shall be descendants to bear thy name.’
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
For he argued that God was able even to raise a man from the dead — and indeed, figuratively speaking, Abraham did receive Isaac back from the dead.
20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
It was faith that enabled Isaac to bless Jacob and Esau, even with regard to the future.
21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed over the top of his staff.
Faith enabled Jacob, when dying, to give his blessing to each of the sons of Joseph, and ‘to bow himself in worship as he leant upon the top of his staff.’
22 By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Faith caused Joseph, when his end was near, to speak of the future migration of the Israelites, and to give instructions with regard to his bones.
23 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.
Faith caused the parents of Moses to hide the child for three months after his birth, for they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they would not respect the King’s order.
24 By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
It was faith that caused Moses, when he was grown up, to refuse the title of ‘Son of a Daughter of Pharaoh.’
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;
He preferred sharing the hardships of God’s People to enjoying the short-lived pleasures of sin.
26 considering the abuse suffered for the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
For he counted ‘the reproaches that are heaped upon the Christ’ of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, looking forward, as he did, to the reward awaiting him.
27 By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Faith caused him to leave Egypt, though undaunted by the King’s anger, for he was strengthened in his endurance by the vision of the invisible God.
28 By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
Faith led him to institute the Passover and the Sprinkling of the Blood, so that the Destroyer might not touch the eldest children of the Israelites.
29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
Faith enabled the people to cross the Red Sea, as if it had been dry land, while the Egyptians, when they attempted to do so, were drowned.
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
Faith caused the walls of Jericho to fall after being encircled for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
Faith saved Rahab, the prostitute, from perishing with the unbelievers, after she had entertained the spies with friendliness.
32 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;
Need I add anything more? Time would fail me if I attempted to relate the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, and those of David, Samuel, and the Prophets.
33 who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
By their faith they subdued kingdoms, ruled righteously, gained the fulfilment of God’s promises, ‘shut the mouths of lions,’
34 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.
quelled the fury of the flames, escaped the edge of the sword, found strength in the hour of weakness, displayed their prowess in war, and routed hostile armies.
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. And others were tortured, not accepting the payment for release, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Women received back their dead raised to life. Some were tortured on the wheel, and refused release in order that they might rise to a better life.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
Others had to face taunts and blows, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 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
They were stoned to death, they were tortured, they were swan asunder, they were put to the sword; they wandered about clothed in the skins of sheep or goats, destitute, persecuted, ill-used —
38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
men of whom the world was not worthy — roaming in lonely places, and on the mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, did not receive the promise,
Yet, though they all won renown by their faith, they did not obtain the final fulfilment of God’s promise;
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
since God had in view some better thing for us, that they, apart from us, should not attain perfection.
