Hebrews 11
1 But faith is, of things hoped for, a confidence, of facts, a conviction, when they are not seen;
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.
2 For, thereby, well-attested were the ancients.
Because of their faith, the people of old were commended.
3 By faith, we understand the ages to have been fitted together, by declaration of God, —to the end that, not out of things appearing, should that which is seen, have come into existence. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God. Consequently, we know that what can be seen did not come from anything visible. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith, a fuller sacrifice, did Abel, offer unto God, than Cain, —through which, he received witness that he was righteous, there being a witnessing upon his gifts, by God; and, through it, though he died, he yet is speaking.
By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which 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, Enoch was translated, so as not to see death, and was not found, because that, God, had translated him; for, before the translation, he had received witness that he had become well-pleasing unto God; —
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death, and he was not to be found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 But, apart from faith, it is impossible to be well-pleasing; for he that approacheth unto God—must needs have faith, that he is, and that, to them who seek him out, a rewarder he becometh.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith, Noah, having received intimation concerning the things not yet seen, filled with reverence, prepared an ark to the saving of his house—through which he condemned the world, and, of the righteousness by way of faith, became heir.
By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, was moved with reverent fear and built an ark to save his household. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith, being called, Abraham obeyed—to come forth into a place he was destined to receive for an inheritance; and he came forth, not well knowing whither he was coming.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, in tents, dwelling, along with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise;
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder is, God.
For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith, even Sarah herself, received power for founding a seed, even beyond the season of life’s prime, —seeing that, faithful, she reckoned, him that had promised;
By faith Sarah herself received the ability to conceive, and she bore a child when she was beyond the proper age, because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 Wherefore, even from one, were born, and, as to these things, one who had become dead, —like the stars of the heaven, for multitude, and as the sand that is by the lip of the sea, that cannot be numbered.
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 In faith, all these died—not bearing away the promises, but, from afar, beholding and saluting them, and confessing that, strangers and sojourners, were they upon the land.
All these people died in faith without receiving the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance and welcomed them. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
14 For, they who such things as these are saying, make it clear that, of a paternal home they are in quest;
For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 And, if indeed of that they had been mindful, from which they had come out, they might, in that case, have had an opportunity, to return;
If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had an opportunity to return.
16 But, now, after a better one, are they reaching, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be invoked as, their God, —for he hath prepared for them, a city.
Instead, they were longing for a better land, that is, 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, when tested, offered up Isaac, and, the only-begotten, would he have offered up, who the promises had accepted, —
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his one and only son,
18 Even him of whom it had been said—In Isaac, shall there be called to thee, a seed:
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.”
19 Accounting that, even from among the dead, God, was able, to raise [him], —whence, even in similitude, he bare him away.
He reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead. And figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith, even concerning things to come, did Isaac bless Jacob and Esau.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith, Jacob, when about to die, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and bowed in worship on the top of his staff.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, when drawing to his end—concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, called to remembrance, and, concerning his bones, gave commandment.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 By faith, Moses, when born—was hid three months by his parents, because, they saw, that, goodly, was, the child, and were not affrighted, at the decree of the king.
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 did not fear the decree of the king.
24 By faith, Moses, when grown up—refused to be called the son of a daughter of a Pharaoh,
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 Rather choosing—to be jointly suffering ill-treatment with the people of God, than, for a season, to be having, sins enjoyment;
choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
26 Accounting—as greater riches than Egypt’s treasures, the reproach of the Anointed One; for he was looking away unto the recompense.
He considered the reproach of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was focused on the reward.
27 By faith, he forsook Egypt—not put in fear of the wrath of the king; for, as seeing him who cannot be seen, he persevered.
By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as though he could see him who is invisible.
28 By faith, he hath kept the passover and the besmearing of the blood, lest, he that was destroying the first-born, should be touching them.
By faith he celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the Israelites.
29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea, as over dry land, —which the Egyptians, seizing an attempt to do, were swallowed up.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho, fell, having been surrounded for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the harlot perished not with them who refused to yield, she having welcomed the spies with peace.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32 And what more can I say? For, time, will fail me while I go on telling—concerning Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets, —
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 Who, through faith—prevailed in contest over kingdoms, wrought righteousness, attained unto promises, shut the mouths of lions,
who by faith conquered kingdoms, carried out justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword, were made powerful from weakness, became mighty in battle, overturned, camps of aliens;
quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed the armies of foreigners.
35 Women received, by resurrection, their dead; but, others, were put to the rack, not accepting redemption, that, unto a better resurrection, they might attain:
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Other people were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others, again, of mockings and scourgings, received trial, nay! further, of bonds and imprisonments:
Others endured mocking and flogging, as well as chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, were pierced through, were sawn asunder, by murder, with a sword, died, went about in sheep-skins, in goat-hides, —being in want, suffering tribulation, enduring ill-treatment:
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, and they were killed with the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.
38 Of whom the world, was not worthy—upon deserts, wandering, and mountains, and in caves, —and in the caverns of the earth.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And, these all, though they obtained witness through their faith, yet bare not away, the promise:
All these people were commended for their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.
40 God, for us, something better providing, —that, not apart from us, should they be made, perfect.
For God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
