Epistula ad Hebraeos, 11

1. est autem fides sperandorum substantia rerum argumentum non parentum

1. Now faith is the substance of things to be hoped for, the evidence of things that appear not.

2. in hac enim testimonium consecuti sunt senes

2. For by this the ancients obtained a testimony.

3. fide intellegimus aptata esse sæcula verbo Dei ut ex invisibilibus visibilia fierent

3. By faith we understand that the world was framed by the word of God; that from invisible things visible things might be made.

4. fide plurimam hostiam Abel quam Cain obtulit Deo per quam testimonium consecutus est esse justus testimonium perhibente muneribus ejus Deo et per illam defunctus adhuc loquitur

4. By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice exceeding that of Cain, by which he obtained a testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts; and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5. fide Enoch translatus est ne videret mortem et non inveniebatur quia transtulit illum Deus ante translationem enim testimonium habebat placuisse Deo

5. By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had testimony that he pleased God.

6. sine fide autem inpossibile placere credere enim oportet accedentem ad Deum quia est et inquirentibus se remunerator fit

6. But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him.

7. fide Nœ responso accepto de his quæ adhuc non videbantur metuens aptavit arcam in salutem domus suæ per quam damnavit mundum et justitiæ quæ per fidem est heres est institutus

7. By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith.

8. fide qui vocatur Abraham obœdivit in locum exire quem accepturus erat in hereditatem et exiit nesciens quo iret

8. By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9. fide moratus est in terra repromissionis tamquam in aliena in casulis habitando cum Isaac et Jacob coheredibus repromissionis ejusdem

9. By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.

10. expectabat enim fundamenta habentem civitatem cujus artifex et conditor Deus

10. For he looked for a city that hath foundations; whose builder and maker is God.

11. fide et ipsa Sarra sterilis virtutem in conceptionem seminis accepit etiam præter tempus ætatis quoniam fidelem credidit esse qui promiserat

11. By faith also Sara herself, being barren, received strength to conceive seed, even past the time of age; because she believed that he was faithful who had promised,

12. propter quod et ab uno orti sunt et hæc emortuo tamquam sidera cæli in multitudinem et sicut harena quæ est ad oram maris innumerabilis

12. For which cause there sprung even from one (and him as good as dead) as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13. juxta fidem defuncti sunt omnes isti non acceptis repromissionibus sed a longe eas aspicientes et salutantes et confitentes quia peregrini et hospites sunt supra terram

13. All these died according to faith, not having received the promises, but beholding them afar off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims and strangers on the earth.

14. qui enim hæc dicunt significant se patriam inquirere

14. For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country. 15 And truly if they had been mindful of that from whence they came out, they had doubtless time to return.

15. et si quidem illius meminissent de qua exierunt habebant utique tempus revertendi

15.

16. nunc autem meliorem appetunt id est cælestem ideo non confunditur Deus vocari Deus eorum paravit enim illis civitatem

16. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

17. fide obtulit Abraham Isaac cum temptaretur et unigenitum offerebat qui susceperat repromissiones

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

18. ad quem dictum est quia in Isaac vocabitur tibi semen

18. (To whom it was said: In Isaac shall thy seed be called.)

19. arbitrans quia et a mortuis suscitare potens est Deus unde eum et in parabola accepit

19. Accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon also he received him for a parable.

20. fide et de futuris benedixit Isaac Jacob et Esau

20. By faith also of things to come, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.

21. fide Jacob moriens singulis filiorum Joseph benedixit et adoravit fastigium virgæ ejus

21. By faith Jacob dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and adored the top of his rod.

22. fide Joseph moriens de profectione filiorum Israël memoratus est et de ossibus suis mandavit

22. By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the going out of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23. fide Moses natus occultatus est mensibus tribus a parentibus suis eo quod vidissent elegantem infantem et non timuerunt regis edictum

23. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents; because they saw he was a comely babe, and they feared not the king's edict.

24. fide Moses grandis factus negavit se esse filium filiæ Pharaonis

24. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, denied himself to be the son of Pharao's daughter;

25. magis eligens adfligi cum populo Dei quam temporalis peccati habere jucunditatem

25. Rather choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have the pleasure of sin for a time,

26. majores divitias æstimans thesauro Ægyptiorum inproperium Christi aspiciebat enim in remunerationem

26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasure of the Egyptians. For he looked unto the reward.

27. fide reliquit Ægyptum non veritus animositatem regis invisibilem enim tamquam videns sustinuit

27. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the fierceness of the king: for he endured as seeing him that is invisible.

28. fide celebravit pascha et sanguinis effusionem ne qui vastabat primitiva tangeret eos

28. By faith he celebrated the pasch, and the shedding of the blood; that he, who destroyed the firstborn, might not touch them.

29. fide transierunt mare Rubrum tamquam per aridam terram quod experti Ægyptii devorati sunt

29. By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land: which the Egyptians attempting, were swallowed up.

30. fide muri Hiericho ruerunt circuiti dierum septem

30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, by the going round them seven days.

31. fide Raab meretrix non periit cum incredulis excipiens exploratores cum pace

31. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, receiving the spies with peace.

32. et quid adhuc dicam deficiet enim me tempus enarrantem de Gedeon Barac Samson Jepthæ David et Samuhel et prophetis

32. And what shall I yet say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, Barac, Samson, Jephthe, David, Samuel, and the prophets:

33. qui per fidem devicerunt regna operati sunt justitiam adepti sunt repromissiones obturaverunt ora leonum

33. Who by faith conquered kingdoms, wrought justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34. extinxerunt impetum ignis effugerunt aciem gladii convaluerunt de infirmitate fortes facti sunt in bello castra verterunt exterorum

34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered strength from weakness, became valiant in battle, put to flight the armies of foreigners:

35. acceperunt mulieres de resurrectione mortuos suos alii autem distenti sunt non suscipientes redemptionem ut meliorem invenirent resurrectionem

35. Women received their dead raised to life again. But others were racked, not accepting deliverance, that they might find a better resurrection.

36. alii vero ludibria et verbera experti insuper et vincula et carceres

36. And others had trial of mockeries and stripes, moreover also of bands and prisons.

37. lapidati sunt secti sunt temptati sunt in occisione gladii mortui sunt circumierunt in melotis in pellibus caprinis egentes angustiati adflicti

37. They were stoned, they were cut asunder, they were tempted, they were put to death by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in want, distressed, afflicted:

38. quibus dignus non erat mundus in solitudinibus errantes et montibus et speluncis et in cavernis terræ

38. Of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, in mountains, and in dens, and in caved of the earth.

39. et hii omnes testimonio fidei probati non acceperunt repromissionem

39. And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise;

40. Deo pro nobis melius aliquid providente ut ne sine nobis consummarentur

40. God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.