Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, the proving of things not seen.
Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.
2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them.
For by it the saints of old won God's approval.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which do appear. (aiōn g165)
Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is visible. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for before his translation he hath had witness borne to him that he had been well-pleasing unto God:
Through faith Enoch was taken from the earth so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken we have evidence that he truly pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing [unto him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned [of God] concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Through faith Abraham, upon being called to leave home and go into a land which he was soon to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going to.
9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a [land] not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Through faith he came and made his home for a time in a land which had been promised to him, as if in a foreign country, living in tents together with Isaac and Jacob, sharers with him in the same promise;
10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
for he continually looked forward to the city which has the foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:
Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful who had given the promise.
12 wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea shore, innumerable.
And thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars of the sky in number, and like the sands on the sea shore which cannot be counted.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;
14 For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.
for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own.
15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that [country] from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
And if they had cherished the remembrance of the country they had left, they would have found an opportunity to return;
16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
but, as it is, we see them eager for a better land, that is to say, a heavenly one. For this reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has now prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten [son];
Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son
18 [even he] to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
with regard to whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that your posterity shall be traced."
19 accounting that God [is] able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a parable receive him back.
For he reckoned that God is even able to raise a man up from among the dead, and, figuratively speaking, it was from among the dead that he received Isaac again.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
Through faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even in connexion with things soon to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Through faith Joseph, when he was near his end, made mention of the departure of the descendants of Israel, and gave orders about his own body.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Through faith the child Moses was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw his rare beauty; and the king's edict had no terror for them.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
Through faith Moses, when he grew to manhood, refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter's son,
25 choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
having determined to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin;
26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
because he deemed the reproaches which he might meet with in the service of the Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his gaze on the coming reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king's anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.
28 By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
Through faith he instituted the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.
Through faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing over dry land, but the Egyptians, when they tried to do the same, were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.
Through faith the walls of Jericho fell to the ground after being surrounded for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:
And why need I say more? For time will fail me if I tell the story of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and of David and Samuel and the Prophets;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.
deprived fire of its power, escaped being killed by the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight foreign armies.
35 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Women received back their dear ones alive from the dead; and others were put to death with torture, refusing the deliverance offered to them--that they might secure a better resurrection.
36 and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Others again were tested by cruel mockery and by scourging; yes, and by chains and imprisonment.
37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, evil entreated
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried by temptation, they were killed with the sword. They went from place to place in sheepskins or goatskins, enduring want, oppression and cruelty.
38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
(They were men of whom the world was not worthy.) They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.
