Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is being sure of the things hoped for and certain of things that are not seen.
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the conviction of what we do not see.
2 For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith.
Because of their faith, the people of old were commended.
3 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)
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 looking forward to the city with 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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
If they had been thinking of the land they left behind, they would have had an opportunity to return.
16 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.
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 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.
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 It was Abraham to whom it had been said, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be named.”
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac yoʋr descendants will be counted.”
19 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.
He reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead. And figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 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.
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 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.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 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.
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 It was by faith that Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 Instead, he chose to suffer with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while.
choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
26 He reasoned that the disgrace of following Christ was greater riches than Egypt's treasures. For he was fixing his eyes on his reward.
He considered the reproach of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was focused on the reward.
27 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.
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 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.
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 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.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32 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.
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 It was through faith that they conquered kingdoms, worked justice, and received promises. They stopped the mouths of lions,
who by faith conquered kingdoms, carried out justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were healed of illnesses, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies.
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 back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might experience a better resurrection.
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 had testing in mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment.
Others endured mocking and flogging, as well as chains and imprisonment.
37 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.
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 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.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise.
All these people were commended for their faith, but they did not receive what was promised.
40 God planned something better for us, so that without us, they would not be made perfect.
For God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.
