Hebrews 11
1 But faith is, of things hoped for, a confidence, of facts, a conviction, when they are not seen;
Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.
2 For, thereby, well-attested were the ancients.
This is why the ancients were commended.
3 By faith, we understand the ages to have been fitted together, by declaration of God, —to the end that, not out of things appearing, should that which is seen, have come into existence. (aiōn g165)
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith, a fuller sacrifice, did Abel, offer unto God, than Cain, —through which, he received witness that he was righteous, there being a witnessing upon his gifts, by God; and, through it, though he died, he yet is speaking.
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith, Enoch was translated, so as not to see death, and was not found, because that, God, had translated him; for, before the translation, he had received witness that he had become well-pleasing unto God; —
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 But, apart from faith, it is impossible to be well-pleasing; for he that approacheth unto God—must needs have faith, that he is, and that, to them who seek him out, a rewarder he becometh.
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
7 By faith, Noah, having received intimation concerning the things not yet seen, filled with reverence, prepared an ark to the saving of his house—through which he condemned the world, and, of the righteousness by way of faith, became heir.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith, being called, Abraham obeyed—to come forth into a place he was destined to receive for an inheritance; and he came forth, not well knowing whither he was coming.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
9 By faith, he sojourned in the land of promise, as a foreign land, in tents, dwelling, along with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise;
By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was awaiting the city having foundations, whose architect and builder 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 for founding a seed, even beyond the season of life’s prime, —seeing that, faithful, she reckoned, him that had promised;
By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
12 Wherefore, even from one, were born, and, as to these things, one who had become dead, —like the stars of the heaven, for multitude, and as the sand that is by the lip of the sea, that cannot be numbered.
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 In faith, all these died—not bearing away the promises, but, from afar, beholding and saluting them, and confessing that, strangers and sojourners, were they upon the land.
All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For, they who such things as these are saying, make it clear that, of a paternal home they are in quest;
Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 And, if indeed of that they had been mindful, from which they had come out, they might, in that case, have had an opportunity, to return;
If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But, now, after a better one, are they reaching, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be invoked as, their God, —for he hath prepared for them, a city.
Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham, when tested, offered up Isaac, and, the only-begotten, would he have offered up, who the promises had accepted, —
By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,
18 Even him of whom it had been said—In Isaac, shall there be called to thee, a seed:
even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 Accounting that, even from among the dead, God, was able, to raise [him], —whence, even in similitude, he bare him away.
Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith, even concerning things to come, did Isaac bless Jacob and Esau.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 By faith, Jacob, when about to die, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and bowed in worship on the top of his staff.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, when drawing to his end—concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, called to remembrance, and, concerning his bones, gave commandment.
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith, Moses, when born—was hid three months by his parents, because, they saw, that, goodly, was, the child, and were not affrighted, at the decree of the king.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
24 By faith, Moses, when grown up—refused to be called the son of a daughter of a Pharaoh,
By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 Rather choosing—to be jointly suffering ill-treatment with the people of God, than, for a season, to be having, sins enjoyment;
He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26 Accounting—as greater riches than Egypt’s treasures, the reproach of the Anointed One; for he was looking away unto the recompense.
He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 By faith, he forsook Egypt—not put in fear of the wrath of the king; for, as seeing him who cannot be seen, he persevered.
By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28 By faith, he hath kept the passover and the besmearing of the blood, lest, he that was destroying the first-born, should be touching them.
By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea, as over dry land, —which the Egyptians, seizing an attempt to do, were swallowed up.
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho, fell, having been surrounded for seven days.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the harlot perished not with them who refused to yield, she having welcomed the spies with peace.
By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more can I say? For, time, will fail me while I go on telling—concerning Gideon, Barak, Sampson, Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets, —
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 Who, through faith—prevailed in contest over kingdoms, wrought righteousness, attained unto promises, shut the mouths of lions,
who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword, were made powerful from weakness, became mighty in battle, overturned, camps of aliens;
quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received, by resurrection, their dead; but, others, were put to the rack, not accepting redemption, that, unto a better resurrection, they might attain:
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 Others, again, of mockings and scourgings, received trial, nay! further, of bonds and imprisonments:
Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, were pierced through, were sawn asunder, by murder, with a sword, died, went about in sheep-skins, in goat-hides, —being in want, suffering tribulation, enduring ill-treatment:
They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
38 Of whom the world, was not worthy—upon deserts, wandering, and mountains, and in caves, —and in the caverns of the earth.
The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 And, these all, though they obtained witness through their faith, yet bare not away, the promise:
These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
40 God, for us, something better providing, —that, not apart from us, should they be made, perfect.
God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
