Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see.
2 For by this, the elders obtained approval.
For by it the saints of old won God's approval.
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)
Through faith we understand that the worlds came into being, and still exist, at the command of God, so that what is seen does not owe its existence to that which is 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.
Through faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain did, and through this faith he obtained testimony that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.
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.
Through faith Enoch was taken from the earth so that he did not see death, and he could not be found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken we have evidence that he truly 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.
But where there is no faith it is impossible truly to please Him; for the man who draws near to God must believe that there is a God and that He proves Himself a rewarder of those who earnestly try to find 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.
Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things as yet unseen, reverently gave heed and built an ark for the safety of his family, and by this act he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which depends on 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.
Through faith Abraham, upon being called to leave home and go into a land which he was soon to receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going to.
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.
Through faith he came and made his home for a time in a land which had been promised to him, as if in a foreign country, living in tents together with Isaac and Jacob, sharers with him in the same promise;
10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
for he continually looked forward to the city which has the 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.
Through faith even Sarah herself received strength to become a mother--although she was past the time of life for this--because she judged Him faithful 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.
And thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars of the sky in number, and like the sands on the sea shore which cannot be counted.
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.
All these died in the possession of faith. They had not received the promised blessings, but had seen them from a distance and had greeted them, and had acknowledged themselves to be foreigners and strangers here on earth;
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
for men who acknowledge this make it manifest that they are seeking elsewhere a country of their own.
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
And if they had cherished the remembrance of the country they had left, they would have found an 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, we see them eager for a better land, that is to say, a heavenly one. For this reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has now 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,
Through faith Abraham, as soon as God put him to the test, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had joyfully welcomed the promises was on the point of sacrificing his only son
18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
with regard to whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that your posterity shall be traced."
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
For he reckoned that God is even able to raise a man up from among the dead, and, figuratively speaking, it was from among the dead that he received Isaac again.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
Through faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even in connexion with things soon to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Through faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and, leaning on the top of his staff, worshipped God.
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.
Through faith Joseph, when he was near his end, made mention of the departure of the descendants of Israel, and gave orders about his own body.
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.
Through faith the child Moses was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw his rare beauty; and the king's edict had no terror for them.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Through faith Moses, when he grew to manhood, refused to be known as Pharaoh's daughter's son,
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
having determined to endure ill-treatment along with the people of God rather than enjoy the short-lived pleasures of sin;
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
because he deemed the reproaches which he might meet with in the service of the Christ to be greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his gaze on the coming reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Through faith he left Egypt, not being frightened by the king's anger; for he held on his course as seeing the unseen One.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
Through faith he instituted the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
Through faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing over dry land, but the Egyptians, when they tried to do the same, were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Through faith the walls of Jericho fell to the ground after being surrounded for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
Through faith the notorious sinner Rahab did not perish along with the disobedient, for she had welcomed the spies and had sheltered them.
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—
And why need I say more? For time will fail me if I tell the story of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and of David and Samuel and the Prophets;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
men who, as the result of faith, conquered whole kingdoms, brought about true justice, obtained promises from God, stopped lions' mouths,
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.
deprived fire of its power, escaped being killed by the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put to flight 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 dear ones alive from the dead; and others were put to death with torture, refusing the deliverance offered to them--that they might secure a better resurrection.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
Others again were tested by cruel mockery and by scourging; yes, and by 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 asunder, they were tried by temptation, they were killed with the sword. They went from place to place in sheepskins or goatskins, enduring want, oppression and cruelty.
38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
(They were men of whom the world was not worthy.) They wandered across deserts and mountains, or hid themselves in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise,
And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
for God had provided for them and us something better, so that apart from us they were not to attain to full blessedness.
