1 N ow faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things hope for, being the proof of things do not see and the conviction of their reality.

Or la fede è certezza di cose che si sperano, dimostrazione di realtà che non si vedono.

2 F or by '> trust and holy fervor born of faith] the men of old had divine testimony borne to them and obtained a good report.

Infatti, per essa fu resa buona testimonianza agli antichi.

3 B y faith we understand that the worlds were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible.

Per fede comprendiamo che i mondi sono stati formati dalla parola di Dio; così le cose che si vedono non sono state tratte da cose apparenti.

4 b y faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous, and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet he is still speaking.

Per fede Abele offrì a Dio un sacrificio più eccellente di quello di Caino; per mezzo di essa gli fu resa testimonianza che egli era giusto, quando Dio attestò di gradire le sue offerte; e per mezzo di essa, benché morto, egli parla ancora.

5 B ecause of faith Enoch was caught up and transferred to heaven, so that he did not have a glimpse of death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. For even before he was taken to heaven, he received testimony that he had pleased and been satisfactory to God.

Per fede Enoc fu rapito perché non vedesse la morte, e non fu più trovato, perché Dio lo aveva portato via; infatti, prima che fosse portato via, ebbe la testimonianza di essere stato gradito a Dio.

6 B ut without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.

Ora senza fede è impossibile piacergli, poiché chi si accosta a Dio deve credere che egli è, e che ricompensa tutti quelli che lo cercano.

7 b y faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness ( that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith).

Per fede Noè, divinamente avvertito di cose che non si vedevano ancora, con pio timore, preparò un’arca per la salvezza della sua famiglia; con la sua fede condannò il mondo e fu fatto erede della giustizia che si ha per mezzo della fede.

8 b y faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went forth to a place which he was destined to receive as an inheritance; and he went, although he did not know or trouble his mind about where he was to go.

Per fede Abraamo, quando fu chiamato, ubbidì, per andarsene in un luogo che egli doveva ricevere in eredità; e partì senza sapere dove andava.

9 b y faith he dwelt as a temporary resident in the land which was designated in the promise in a strange country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs with him of the same promise.

Per fede soggiornò nella terra promessa come in terra straniera, abitando in tende, come Isacco e Giacobbe, eredi con lui della stessa promessa,

10 F or he was looking forward to the city which has fixed and firm foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God.

perché aspettava la città che ha le vere fondamenta e il cui architetto e costruttore è Dio.

11 B ecause of faith also Sarah herself received physical power to conceive a child, even when she was long past the age for it, because she considered Who had given her the promise to be reliable and trustworthy and true to His word.

Per fede anche Sara, benché sterile e fuori di età, ricevette forza di concepire, perché ritenne fedele colui che aveva fatto la promessa.

12 S o from one man, though he was physically as good as dead, there have sprung descendants whose number is as the stars of heaven and as countless as the innumerable sands on the seashore.

Perciò da una sola persona, e già svigorita, è nata una discendenza numerosa come le stelle del cielo, come la sabbia lungo la riva del mare che non si può contare.

13 T hese people all died controlled and sustained by their faith, but not having received the tangible fulfillment of promises, only having seen it and greeted it from a great distance by faith, and all the while acknowledging and confessing that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.

Tutti costoro sono morti nella fede, senza ricevere le cose promesse, ma le hanno vedute e salutate da lontano, confessando di essere forestieri e pellegrini sulla terra.

14 N ow those people who talk as they did show plainly that they are in search of a fatherland (their own country).

Infatti, chi dice così dimostra di cercare una patria;

15 I f they had been thinking with remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it.

e se avessero avuto a cuore quella da cui erano usciti, certo avrebbero avuto tempo di ritornarvi!

16 B ut the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly. For that reason God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Ma ora ne desiderano una migliore, cioè quella celeste; perciò Dio non si vergogna di essere chiamato il loro Dio, poiché ha preparato loro una città.

17 B y faith Abraham, when he was put to the test '> still in progress], had already brought Isaac for an offering; he who had gladly received and welcomed promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,

Per fede Abraamo, quando fu messo alla prova, offrì Isacco; egli, che aveva ricevuto le promesse, offrì il suo unigenito.

18 O f whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.

Eppure Dio gli aveva detto: «È in Isacco che ti sarà data una discendenza ».

19 F or he reasoned that God was able to raise up even from among the dead. Indeed in the sense that Isaac was figuratively dead, he did receive him back from the dead.

Abraamo era persuaso che Dio è potente da risuscitare anche i morti; e riebbe Isacco come per una specie di risurrezione.

20 f aith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.

Per fede Isacco benedisse Giacobbe ed Esaù anche riguardo a cose future.

21 b y faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in prayer over the top of his staff.

Per fede Giacobbe, morente, benedisse ciascuno dei figli di Giuseppe e adorò appoggiandosi in cima al suo bastone.

22 b y faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones.

Per fede Giuseppe, quando stava per morire, fece menzione dell’esodo dei figli d’Israele e diede disposizioni circa le sue ossa.

23 b y faith Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents, because they saw how comely the child was; and they were not overawed and terrified by the king’s decree.

Per fede Mosè, quando nacque, fu tenuto nascosto per tre mesi dai suoi genitori, perché videro che il bambino era bello, e non ebbero paura dell’editto del re.

24 b y faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity and become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

Per fede Mosè, fattosi grande, rifiutò di essere chiamato figlio della figlia del faraone,

25 B ecause he preferred to share the oppression and bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.

preferendo essere maltrattato con il popolo di Dio che godere per breve tempo i piaceri del peccato,

26 H e considered the contempt and abuse and shame the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward (recompense).

stimando gli oltraggi di Cristo ricchezza maggiore dei tesori d’Egitto, perché aveva lo sguardo rivolto alla ricompensa.

27 b y faith he left Egypt behind him, being unawed and undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.

Per fede abbandonò l’Egitto, senza temere la collera del re, perché rimase costante, come se vedesse colui che è invisibile.

28 B y faith (simple trust and confidence in God) he instituted and carried out the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those.

Per fede celebrò la Pasqua e fece l’aspersione del sangue affinché lo sterminatore dei primogeniti non toccasse quelli degli Israeliti.

29 b y faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed up.

Per fede passarono attraverso il mar Rosso come su terra asciutta, mentre gli Egiziani che tentarono di fare la stessa cosa furono inghiottiti.

30 B ecause of faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encompassed for seven days.

Per fede caddero le mura di Gerico dopo che gli Israeliti vi ebbero girato attorno per sette giorni.

31 b y faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed along with those who refused to believe and obey, because she had received the spies in peace.

Per fede Raab, la prostituta, non perì con gli increduli, avendo accolto con benevolenza le spie.

32 A nd what shall I say further? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

Che dirò di più? Poiché il tempo mi mancherebbe per raccontare di Gedeone, Barac, Sansone, Iefte, Davide, Samuele e dei profeti,

33 W ho by faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,

i quali per fede conquistarono regni, praticarono la giustizia, ottennero l’adempimento di promesse, chiusero le fauci dei leoni,

34 E xtinguished the power of raging fire, escaped the devourings of the sword, out of frailty and weakness won strength and became stalwart, even mighty and resistless in battle, routing alien hosts.

spensero la violenza del fuoco, scamparono al taglio della spada, guarirono da infermità, divennero forti in guerra, misero in fuga eserciti stranieri.

35 w omen received again their dead by a resurrection. Others were tortured to death with clubs, refusing to accept release, so that they might be resurrected to a better life.

Ci furono donne che riebbero per risurrezione i loro morti; altri furono torturati perché non accettarono la loro liberazione, per ottenere una risurrezione migliore;

36 O thers had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment.

altri furono messi alla prova con scherni, frustate, anche catene e prigionia.

37 T hey were stoned to death; they were lured with tempting offers; they were sawn asunder; they were slaughtered by the sword; they had to go about wrapped in the skins of sheep and goats, utterly destitute, oppressed, cruelly treated—

Furono lapidati, segati, uccisi di spada; andarono attorno coperti di pelli di pecora e di capra; bisognosi, afflitti, maltrattati

38 o f whom the world was not worthy—roaming over the desolate places and the mountains, and in caves and caverns and holes of the earth.

(di loro il mondo non era degno), erranti per deserti, monti, spelonche e per le grotte della terra.

39 A nd all of these, though they won divine approval by their faith, did not receive the fulfillment of what was promised,

Tutti costoro, pur avendo avuto buona testimonianza per la loro fede, non ottennero ciò che era stato promesso;

40 B ecause God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they should not come to perfection apart from us.

perché Dio aveva in vista per noi qualcosa di meglio, in modo che loro non giungessero alla perfezione senza di noi.