ibriNaH 11
1 vizvAsa AzaMsitAnAM nizcayaH, adRzyAnAM viSayANAM darzanaM bhavati|
It is because people trust [God] that they are sure that they will receive the things that they confidently expect [God to give them]. They are also certain [that they will see those things], though no one sees them yet.
2 tena vizvAsena prAJco lokAH prAmANyaM prAptavantaH|
It was because our ancestors trusted in God that they pleased him.
3 aparam Izvarasya vAkyena jagantyasRjyanta, dRSTavastUni ca pratyakSavastubhyo nodapadyantaitad vayaM vizvAsena budhyAmahe| (aiōn g165)
It is because we trust in God that we understand that he formed the universe by commanding [it to exist]. The result is that the things that we see were not made from things that already existed. (aiōn g165)
4 vizvAsena hAbil Izvaramuddizya kAbilaH zreSThaM balidAnaM kRtavAn tasmAccezvareNa tasya dAnAnyadhi pramANe datte sa dhArmmika ityasya pramANaM labdhavAn tena vizvAsena ca sa mRtaH san adyApi bhASate|
It was because [Adam’s son] Abel trusted God that he sacrificed something better to God than what [his older brother] Cain offered to God. Because Abel did that, when God spoke well about what Abel sacrificed, God declared that Abel was righteous. And although Abel is dead, we still learn from him [about trusting God].
5 vizvAsena hanok yathA mRtyuM na pazyet tathA lokAntaraM nItaH, tasyoddezazca kenApi na prApi yata IzvarastaM lokAntaraM nItavAn, tatpramANamidaM tasya lokAntarIkaraNAt pUrvvaM sa IzvarAya rocitavAn iti pramANaM prAptavAn|
It was because Enoch believed [God that God] took him [up to heaven]. The result was that he did not die. No one found him, because he was taken up {[God] had removed him} from the earth [to heaven]. Before [God] took him away, [he] testified that Enoch pleased him well.
6 kintu vizvAsaM vinA ko'pIzvarAya rocituM na zaknoti yata Izvaro'sti svAnveSilokebhyaH puraskAraM dadAti cetikathAyAm IzvarazaraNAgatai rvizvasitavyaM|
It is possible for people to please God only if they trust God, because anyone who wants to come to God must first believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek [to know] him.
7 aparaM tadAnIM yAnyadRzyAnyAsan tAnIzvareNAdiSTaH san noho vizvAsena bhItvA svaparijanAnAM rakSArthaM potaM nirmmitavAn tena ca jagajjanAnAM doSAn darzitavAn vizvAsAt labhyasya puNyasyAdhikArI babhUva ca|
It was because Noah trusted [God] that after he was warned by God {after [God] warned him} about [a flood that] had not yet happened, Noah [showed that he] revered God by building a huge ship to save his family. By doing that, he [showed all the people who did not believe him] [MTY] [that they deserved to be condemned] {[that God would] condemn them}. He was someone whom God declared to be righteous because of his trusting in God.
8 vizvAsenebrAhIm AhUtaH san AjJAM gRhItvA yasya sthAnasyAdhikArastena prAptavyastat sthAnaM prasthitavAn kintu prasthAnasamaye kka yAmIti nAjAnAt|
It was because Abraham trusted God that when he was told to go {when [God] told him to go}, he obeyed [God], he left [his own country], and went to a place that God would give him. Abraham left his own country, even though he did not know where he would be going.
9 vizvAsena sa pratijJAte deze paradezavat pravasan tasyAH pratijJAyAH samAnAMzibhyAm ishAkA yAkUbA ca saha dUSyavAsyabhavat|
It was because Abraham trusted God that he lived as though he was a foreigner in the land that [God] had promised to him. Abraham lived in tents, and his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob did also. God promised to give to Isaac and Jacob the same things that he promised to give Abraham.
10 yasmAt sa IzvareNa nirmmitaM sthApitaJca bhittimUlayuktaM nagaraM pratyaikSata|
Abraham was waiting to live in a city [in heaven] that would exist forever [MET]. It was a city that God is building [DOU].
11 aparaJca vizvAsena sArA vayotikrAntA santyapi garbhadhAraNAya zaktiM prApya putravatyabhavat, yataH sA pratijJAkAriNaM vizvAsyam amanyata|
It was because Abraham trusted God that God gave Abraham strength so that he [was] able to produce a son. Even though his wife Sarah was past the age [when women bear children], [God] promised [that he would give her a son], and Abraham considered that God would do what he promised to do.
12 tato heto rmRtakalpAd ekasmAt janAd AkAzIyanakSatrANIva gaNanAtItAH samudratIrasthasikatA iva cAsaMkhyA lokA utpedire|
So, although Abraham was also too old to have children, so many people descended from that one man that they were as numerous as the stars in the sky and are as countless as the grains of sand along the seashore, [just like God promised him].
13 ete sarvve pratijJAyAH phalAnyaprApya kevalaM dUrAt tAni nirIkSya vanditvA ca, pRthivyAM vayaM videzinaH pravAsinazcAsmaha iti svIkRtya vizvAsena prANAn tatyajuH|
It was while they still trusted in God that all those people died. Even though they had not yet received the things that God had promised to give them, [it was as though] they saw those things in a distance. They were glad [to know] about what God promised. It was as though they admitted that they were not from this earth, but that they were only here temporarily.
14 ye tu janA itthaM kathayanti taiH paitRkadezo 'smAbhiranviSyata iti prakAzyate|
As for those people who talk like that, they clearly show that they long for [a place that will become] their true native land.
15 te yasmAd dezAt nirgatAstaM yadyasmariSyan tarhi parAvarttanAya samayam alapsyanta|
If they had been thinking about [that place being] the place from which they had come, they would have taken the opportunity to return there.
16 kintu te sarvvotkRSTam arthataH svargIyaM dezam AkAGkSanti tasmAd IzvarastAnadhi na lajjamAnasteSAm Izvara iti nAma gRhItavAn yataH sa teSAM kRte nagaramekaM saMsthApitavAn|
But, instead, they desired a better [place in which to live]; that is, they desired [a home] in heaven. So God has prepared a city for them to live [with him], and he is pleased [LIT] for them to say that he is their God.
17 aparam ibrAhImaH parIkSAyAM jAtAyAM sa vizvAseneshAkam utsasarja,
It was because Abraham trusted [God] that he [was ready to] kill his son Isaac as a sacrifice when [God] tested him. This same man to whom [God] promised [to give] ([a son/many descendants]) was going to sacrifice [that same son], the only son [whom his own wife had borne]!
18 vastuta ishAki tava vaMzo vikhyAsyata iti vAg yamadhi kathitA tam advitIyaM putraM pratijJAprAptaH sa utsasarja|
It was to Abraham that God said, “It is [only] from Isaac that I will consider your family to descend.”
19 yata Izvaro mRtAnapyutthApayituM zaknotIti sa mene tasmAt sa upamArUpaM taM lebhe|
Abraham considered that [to fulfill that promise], God could make [Isaac] live again [even if] he had died [after Abraham sacrificed him]! The result was that when Abraham did receive Isaac back [after God told him not to harm Isaac], it was as though he received him back even after he died.
20 aparam ishAk vizvAsena yAkUb eSAve ca bhAviviSayAnadhyAziSaM dadau|
It was because Isaac trusted God that he [prayed that after he died, God would] bless [his] sons Jacob and Esau.
21 aparaM yAkUb maraNakAle vizvAsena yUSaphaH putrayorekaikasmai janAyAziSaM dadau yaSTyA agrabhAge samAlambya praNanAma ca|
It was because Jacob trusted God that, as he was dying, he [prayed that God would] bless each of the sons of [his own son Joseph]. He worshipped God as he leaned upon his walking stick [before he died].
22 aparaM yUSaph caramakAle vizvAsenesrAyelvaMzIyAnAM misaradezAd bahirgamanasya vAcaM jagAda nijAsthIni cAdhi samAdideza|
It was because Joseph trusted God that, when he was about to die [in Egypt], he anticipated the time when the Israelis would leave Egypt; and he instructed [that] his people [should carry] his bones [with them when they] ([left Egypt/returned to Canaan]).
23 navajAto mUsAzca vizvAsAt trAn mAsAn svapitRbhyAm agopyata yatastau svazizuM paramasundaraM dRSTavantau rAjAjJAJca na zaGkitavantau|
It was because Moses’ father and mother trusted God that they hid [their son] for three months shortly after he was born, because they saw that he was so beautiful. They were not afraid of [disobeying] what the king of Egypt had commanded, [namely, that all the Jewish male babies must be killed].
24 aparaM vayaHprApto mUsA vizvAsAt phirauNo dauhitra iti nAma nAGgIcakAra|
The daughter of the [king, whom they called] Pharaoh, [raised] Moses, but when he had grown up, it was because he trusted God that he refused to [accept the privileges that would have been his if people] considered that he was (the son of the king’s daughter/the king’s own grandson).
25 yataH sa kSaNikAt pApajasukhabhogAd Izvarasya prajAbhiH sArddhaM duHkhabhogaM vavre|
He decided that it was better for others to mistreat him for a time along with the Israeli people, than to temporarily enjoy living sinfully [in the King’s palace].
26 tathA misaradezIyanidhibhyaH khrISTanimittAM nindAM mahatIM sampattiM mene yato hetoH sa puraskAradAnam apaikSata|
This is because he decided that if he suffered for the Messiah, it would be worth far more [in God’s sight] than his owning all the treasures of Egypt [that he would receive as Pharaoh’s heir. He decided that] because he looked forward to the time when [God would give him] an [eternal] reward.
27 aparaM sa vizvAsena rAjJaH krodhAt na bhItvA misaradezaM paritatyAja, yatastenAdRzyaM vIkSamANeneva dhairyyam Alambi|
It was because he trusted God that he left Egypt. He was not afraid that the king would be angry [because of his doing that]. He (kept going/did not turn back) because [it was as though] he kept seeing [God], whom no one can see.
28 aparaM prathamajAtAnAM hantA yat svIyalokAn na spRzet tadarthaM sa vizvAsena nistAraparvvIyabalicchedanaM rudhirasecanaJcAnuSThitAvAn|
It was because Moses believed [that God would save his own people] that he instituted the [festival called] Passover. He did that [by commanding that the people should kill lambs and] sprinkle their blood [on their] doorposts. They did that in order that [the angel who] causes people to die would not kill [EUP] the oldest male Israelites [when he killed the oldest sons in each Egyptian family].
29 aparaM te vizvAsAt sthaleneva sUphsAgareNa jagmuH kintu misrIyalokAstat karttum upakramya toyeSu mamajjuH|
It was because they trusted God that [when] the [Israelite] people walked through [where] the Red Sea [had been, it was] as [though they walked] on dry land! But, when the [army of] Egypt also attempted to [cross that same water], they drowned, because [the sea came back and flooded them]!
30 aparaJca vizvAsAt taiH saptAhaM yAvad yirIhoH prAcIrasya pradakSiNe kRte tat nipapAta|
It was because the [Israeli] people trusted God that the walls around Jericho [city] collapsed, after the Israelis marched around the walls for seven days.
31 vizvAsAd rAhabnAmikA vezyApi prItyA cArAn anugRhyAvizvAsibhiH sArddhaM na vinanAza|
Rahab [had been] a prostitute, but because she trusted God, she did not perish with those [inside Jericho] who disobeyed [God. Joshua sent some spies] into the city [in order] to find ways to destroy it, but God saved her because she welcomed those spies [peaceably].
32 adhikaM kiM kathayiSyAmi? gidiyono bArakaH zimzono yiptaho dAyUd zimUyelo bhaviSyadvAdinazcaiteSAM vRttAntakathanAya mama samayAbhAvo bhaviSyati|
I do not know what more I should say [RHQ] [about others who trusted in God]. It would take too much time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the [other] prophets.
33 vizvAsAt te rAjyAni vazIkRtavanto dharmmakarmmANi sAdhitavantaH pratijJAnAM phalaM labdhavantaH siMhAnAM mukhAni ruddhavanto
It was because they trusted God that some of them [did great things for him]. Some conquered lands ruled by powerful men. Some ruled [Israel] and justly [punished those men and nations who rebelled against God]. Some obtained [from God] the things that he promised to give them [MTY].
34 vahnerdAhaM nirvvApitavantaH khaGgadhArAd rakSAM prAptavanto daurbbalye sabalIkRtA yuddhe parAkramiNo jAtAH pareSAM sainyAni davayitavantazca|
Some forced lions to keep their mouths shut. Some escaped from being destroyed by fire. Some of those people escaped from [being killed with] a sword [MTY]. Some of those [people who trusted God] were made strong {became mighty} again after they had once been weak. Some became powerful when they fought wars. Some caused armies [that came from foreign lands] to run away from them.
35 yoSitaH punarutthAnena mRtAn AtmajAn lebhire, apare ca zreSThotthAnasya prApterAzayA rakSAm agRhItvA tADanena mRtavantaH|
Some women [who trusted God] received [their relatives] back again when [God] ([made them live again after they had died/raised them from the dead]). But [others who trusted God] were tortured until they died. They were tortured because they refused to agree when [their captors said, “We will] release you [if you deny that you believe in God.” They refused to do that], because they wanted to live with God forever, which is better than [continuing to live on earth] after having almost died.
36 apare tiraskAraiH kazAbhi rbandhanaiH kArayA ca parIkSitAH|
Other [people who trusted God] were mocked; [some had their backs] cut [open by being struck] with leaded whips. Some were chained and put in prison.
37 bahavazca prastarAghAtai rhatAH karapatrai rvA vidIrNA yantrai rvA kliSTAH khaGgadhArai rvA vyApAditAH| te meSANAM chAgAnAM vA carmmANi paridhAya dInAH pIDitA duHkhArttAzcAbhrAmyan|
[Some of] those believers were stoned to death {People [killed some of those believers by] throwing stones at them}. Others were cut completely in two. Others were killed with swords. Others of these people who trusted God wandered around the land [wearing garments made only of] skins from sheep and goats. They did not have any money. They were continually oppressed and tormented {People continuously oppressed them and tormented them}.
38 saMsAro yeSAm ayogyaste nirjanasthAneSu parvvateSu gahvareSu pRthivyAzchidreSu ca paryyaTan|
[The people on earth who caused those who trusted in God to suffer were so bad that] they did not deserve [to live with people who trusted God. Some who trusted God] wandered in deserts and on mountains. Some lived in caves and in other [large] holes in the ground.
39 etaiH sarvvai rvizvAsAt pramANaM prApi kintu pratijJAyAH phalaM na prApi|
Although all these people were commended [by God] {[God] commended all these people} because they trusted him, God did not give them all that he promised them [while they were alive].
40 yataste yathAsmAn vinA siddhA na bhaveyustathaivezvareNAsmAkaM kRte zreSThataraM kimapi nirdidize|
God knew ahead of time that what he would give us and them [later] would be better than giving [them immediately what he promised]. What God intends is that only when they and we are together will we have all that God intends us to have.
