Hebrews, 11

1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1. Faith is the way of holding onto what we hope for, being certain of what we cannot see.

2. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

2. Because of their faith our ancestors were approved.

3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

3. By faith we understand that the stages of creation were disposed by God's word, and what is visible came from what cannot be seen.

4. 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 speaketh.

4. Because of Abel's faith his offering was more acceptable than that of his brother Cain, which meant he was upright, and God himself approved his offering. Because of this faith he cried to God, as said in Scripture, even after he died.

5. 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.

5. By faith Enoch was taken to Heaven, instead of experiencing death: he could not be found because God had taken him. In fact, it is said that before being taken up he had pleased God.

6. But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

6. Yet without faith it is impossible to please him: no one draws near to God without first believing that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him earnestly.

7. 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.

7. By faith Noah was instructed of events which could not yet be seen and, heeding what he heard, he built a boat in which to save his family. The faith of Noah condemned the world and he reached holiness born of faith.

8. 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 whither he went.

8. It was by faith that Abraham, called by God, set out for a country that would be given to him as an inheritance; for he parted without knowing where he was going.

9. 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:

9. By faith he lived as a stranger in that promised land. There he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, beneficiaries of the same promise.

10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

10. Indeed, he looked forward to that city of solid foundation of which God is the architect and builder.

11. 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.

11. By faith Sarah herself received power to become a mother, in spite of her advanced age; since she believed that he who had made the promise would be faithful.

12. 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.

12. Therefore, from an almost impotent man were born descendants as numerous as the stars of heavens, as many as the grains of sand on the seashore.

13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

13. Death found all these people strong in their faith. They had not received what was promised, but they had looked ahead and had rejoiced in it from afar, saying that they were foreigners and travelers on earth.

14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

14. Those who speak in this way prove that they are looking for their own country.

15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

15. For if they had longed for the land they had left, it would have been easy for them to return,

16. But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

16. but no, they aspired to a better city, that is, a supernatural one; so God, who prepared the city for them is not ashamed of being called their God.

17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],

17. By faith Abraham went to offer Isaac when God tested him. And so he who had received the promise of God offered his only son

18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

18. although God had told him: Isaac's descendants will bear your name.

19. Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

19. Abraham reasoned that God is capable even of raising the dead, and he received back his son, which has a figurative meaning.

20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

20. By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, determining their future.

21. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.

21. By faith Jacob, before he died, blessed both children of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff.

22. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

22. By faith Joseph, when about to die, warned the children of Israel of their exodus and gave orders about his remains.

23. 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.

23. By faith the parents of the newlyborn Moses hid him for three months, for they saw the baby was very beautiful and they did not fear the order of Pharaoh.

24. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

24. By faith Moses, already an adult, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter.

25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

25. He preferred to share ill treatment with the people of God, rather than enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.

26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

26. He considered the humiliation of Christ as greater riches than the wealth of Egypt, and he looked ahead to his reward.

27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

27. By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, and he persevered as if he could see another invisible wrath.

28. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

28. By faith Moses had the Passover celebrated, sprinkling the doors with blood so that the Destroyer would not kill their firstborn sons.

29. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

29. By faith they crossed the Red Sea, as if on dry land, while the Egyptians who tried to cross it were swallowed by the waters and drowned.

30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

30. By faith the walls of Jericho crumbled and fell, after Israel had marched round them for seven days;

31. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

31. by faith, also, the prostitute Rahab escaped death which befell the unbelievers for having welcomed the spies.

32. 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:

32. Do I need to say more? There is not enough time to speak of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, as well as Samuel and the prophets.

33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

33. Through faith they fought and conquered nations, established justice, saw the fulfillment of God's promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34. 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.

34. quenched raging fire, escaped the sword, were healed of their sicknesses, were valiant in battle, repulsed foreign invaders.

35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

35. Some women recovered their dead by resurrection but there were others - persecuted and tortured believers - who, for the sake of a better resurrection, refused to do what would have saved them.

36. And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

36. Others suffered chains and prison.

37. 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;

37. They were stoned, sawn in two, killed by the sword. They fled from place to place with no other clothing than the skins of sheep and goats, lacking everything, afflicted, ill-treated.

38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.

38. These people of whom the world was not worthy had to wander through wastelands and mountains, and take refuge in the dens of the land.

39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

39. However, although all of them were praised because of their faith, they did not enjoy the promise

40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

40. because God had us in mind and saw beyond. And he did not want them to reach this end ahead of us.