KumaHebheru 11
1 Ngakho ukholo luyikuqiniseka kwezinto ezithenjwayo, ubufakazi bezinto ezingabonwayo.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 Ngoba ngalo abadala bafakazelwa.
For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Ngokholo sibona ukuthi imihlaba yadalwa ngelizwi likaNkulunkulu, kuze kuthi izinto ezibonwayo kazivelanga ezintweni ezibonakalayo. (aiōn g165)
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word (rhema) of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. (aiōn g165)
4 Ngokholo uAbela wanikela kuNkulunkulu umhlatshelo ongcono kuloKhayini, owazuza ngawo ubufakazi bokuthi ulungile, uNkulunkulu efakazela izipho zakhe; langalo efile usakhuluma.
By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks.
5 Ngokholo uEnoki wasuswa ukuze angaboni ukufa, njalo katholwanga, ngoba uNkulunkulu wayesemsusile; ngoba engakasuswa wafakazelwa ngokuthi umthokozisile uNkulunkulu;
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 kodwa ngaphandle kokholo kakwenzeki ukumthokozisa; ngoba ozayo kuNkulunkulu umele akholwe ukuthi ukhona, lokuthi ungumvuzi walabo abamdingisisayo.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 Ngokholo uNowa exwayisiwe nguNkulunkulu ngezinto ebezingakabonwa, esesaba, wakha umkhumbi wosindiso lwendlu yakhe; alahla umhlaba ngawo, wasesiba yindlalifa yokulunga ngokokholo.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 Ngokholo uAbrahama walalela ebizwa ukuthi aphume aye endaweni ayezayemukela ibe yilifa; waphuma, engazi lapho aya khona.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he went.
9 Ngokholo wahlala njengomuntu wezizweni elizweni lesithembiso, njengelemzini, ehlala emathenteni loIsaka loJakobe, ababeyizindlalifa kanye laye zalesosithembiso;
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 ngoba wayelindele umuzi olezisekelo, omqambi wesimo lomakhi wawo nguNkulunkulu.
For he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Ngokholo laye uSara uqobo wazuza amandla okwemukela inhlanyelo, esedlulelwe yisikhathi wabeletha, ngoba wathi uthembekile lowo owathembisayo.
Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Ngakho-ke bazalwa ngoyedwa, lalezizinto zivela kosefile, abangangenkanyezi zezulu ngobunengi, langangetshebetshebe elisekhunjini lolwandle elingelakubalwa.
Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 Bonke laba bafela ekholweni, bengemukelanga izithembiso, kodwa bazibonela khatshana, baqiniseka, bazigona, njalo bavuma ukuthi bangabezizwe lezihambi emhlabeni.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them far off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 Ngoba abatsho izinto ezinje batshengisa ukuthi badinga ilizwe lakibo.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 Uba-ke kambe babecabanga ngalelo ababesuke kulo, babengaba lethuba lokubuyela;
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 kodwa khathesi-ke balangatha elingcono, elingelezulwini; ngakho uNkulunkulu kalanhloni ngabo, ukuthiwa nguNkulunkulu wabo; ngoba ubalungisele umuzi.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city.
17 Ngokholo uAbrahama wanikela uIsaka lapho ehlolwa, lalowo owemukela izithembiso wayenikela ozelwe yedwa wakhe,
By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 okwakuthiwe kuye: KuIsaka inzalo yakho izabizwa;
Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall your seed be called:
19 wathi uNkulunkulu ulamandla okuvusa lakwabafileyo; lapho laye amzuze evela khona ngokulinganisa.
Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 Ngokholo uIsaka wabusisa uJakobe loEsawu ngezinto ezizayo.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 Ngokholo uJakobe esesifa wabusisa lowo lalowo wamadodana kaJosefa, wasekhonza ebambelele phezu kodondolo lwakhe.
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 Ngokholo uJosefa esesifa wakhuluma ngokuphuma kwabantwana bakoIsrayeli, waselayezela ngamathambo akhe.
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 Ngokholo uMozisi esezelwe wafihlwa ngabazali bakhe inyanga ezintathu, ngoba babona ukuthi ngumntwana omuhle; njalo bengawesabi umthetho wenkosi.
By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 Ngokholo uMozisi esekhulile wala ukuthiwa uyindodana yendodakazi kaFaro,
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 kulalokho wakhetha ukuphathwa kubi kanye labantu bakaNkulunkulu kulokuthi abe lentokozo yesono isikhatshana;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 wathi ukuthukwa kukaKristu kuyinotho enkulu kulamagugu eGibhithe; ngoba wayekhangele umvuzo.
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 Ngokholo watshiya iGibhithe, engalwesabi ulaka lwenkosi; ngoba waqinisela kungathi uyambona oNgabonwayo.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Ngokholo wagcina iphasika lokufafazwa kwegazi, ukuze lowo obhubhisa amazibulo angabathinti.
Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 Ngokholo badabula uLwandle oluBomvu njengemhlabathini owomileyo; okwathi amaGibhithe bekulinga lokho baminzwa.
By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 Ngokholo imiduli yeJeriko yadilika, isibhodiwe insuku eziyisikhombisa.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 Ngokholo uRahabi isifebe kabhubhanga kanye labangakholwanga, esezemukele izinhloli ngokuthula.
By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 Ngisezathini? Ngoba ngingaphelelwa yisikhathi ngilandisa ngoGidiyoni loBaraki loSamsoni loJefitha loDavida loSamuweli labaprofethi;
And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 abathi ngokholo banqoba imibuso, benza ukulunga, bazuza izithembiso, bavala imilomo yezilwane,
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 bacitsha amandla omlilo, baphepha ubukhali benkemba, bazuza amandla ebuthakathakeni, baqina empini, baxotsha amabutho awezizwe.
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Abesifazana bemukela abafileyo babo bevela ekuvukeni; labanye bazwiswa ubuhlungu, bengemukeli ukukhululwa, ukuze bazuze ukuvuka okungcono;
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 abanye balingwa ngokwenziwa inhlekisa lokutshaywa, futhi langezibopho langentolongo;
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 bakhandwa ngamatshe, basahwa phakathi, balingwa, bafa ekubulaweni ngenkemba; bazula bembethe izigogo zezimvu lezigogo zezimbuzi, baswela, bazwiswa ubuhlungu, baphathwa kubi,
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (umhlaba ongabafanelanga bona) bazula ezinkangala lezintabeni lezimbalwini lemihomeni yomhlaba.
(Of whom the world was not worthy: ) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 Labo bonke laba, befakazelwe ngokholo kabazuzanga isithembiso,
And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 lokhu uNkulunkulu wayesinakekele ngaphambili okungcono, ukuze kuthi ngaphandle kwethu bangapheleliswa.
God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
