Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
Now faith is being sure of the things hoped for and certain of things that are not seen.
2 For by this, the elders obtained approval.
For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith.
3 By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. (aiōn g165)
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)
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
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.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
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.
6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
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.
7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
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.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
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.
9 By faith he lived as an alien 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.
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.
10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
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.
12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
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.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
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.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
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.
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,
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.
18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
It was Abraham to whom it had been said, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will be named.”
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
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.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
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.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
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.
23 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 were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
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.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
It was by faith that Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
Instead, he chose to suffer with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while.
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
He reasoned that the disgrace of following Christ was greater riches than Egypt's treasures. For he was fixing his eyes on his reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
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.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
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.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
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.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—
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.
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
It was through faith that they conquered kingdoms, worked justice, and received promises. They stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were healed of illnesses, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies.
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might experience a better resurrection.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
Others had testing in mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—
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.
38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
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.
39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,
Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise.
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God planned something better for us, so that without us, they would not be made perfect.
