1 ¶ Faith, therefore, is the substance of things waited for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.

2 F or by it the elders obtained a good report.

God was pleased with the men who had faith who lived long ago.

3 T hrough faith we understand that the ages were framed by the word of God, that which is seen being made of that which was not seen.

Through faith we understand that the world was made by the Word of God. Things we see were made from what could not 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 speaks.

Because Abel had faith, he gave a better gift in worship to God than Cain. His gift pleased God. Abel was right with God. Abel died, but by faith he is still speaking to us.

5 B y 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.

Because Enoch had faith, he was taken up from the earth without dying. He could not be found because God had taken him. The Holy Writings tell how he pleased God before he was taken up.

6 B ut without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.

A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.

7 B y faith Noah, having received revelation of things not seen as yet, with great care prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and was made heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Because Noah had faith, he built a large boat for his family. God told him what was going to happen. His faith made him hear God speak and he obeyed. His family was saved from death because he built the boat. In this way, Noah showed the world how sinful it was. Noah became right with God because of his faith in God.

8 B y faith Abraham, being called, hearkened to go out into the place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he went.

Because Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going.

9 B y faith he sojourned in the promised land, as in a strange country, dwelling in booths with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

His faith in God kept him living as a stranger in the country God had promised to him. Isaac and Jacob had received the same promise. They all lived in tents together.

10 f or he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Abraham was looking to God and waiting for a city that could not be moved. It was a city planned and built by God.

11 B y faith also Sara herself being sterile received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she believed him to be faithful who had promised.

Because Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He promised.

12 T herefore there sprang 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.

Abraham was too old to have children. But from this one man came a family with as many in it as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand by the sea.

13 T hese all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off and believing them and embracing them and confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

These people all died having faith in God. They did not receive what God had promised to them. But they could see far ahead to all the things God promised and they were glad for them. They knew they were strangers here. This earth was not their home.

14 F or those that say such things declare plainly that they seek their native country.

People who say these things show they are looking for a country of their own.

15 A nd truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had time to have returned.

They did not think about the country they had come from. If they had, they might have gone back.

16 B ut now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one; therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

But they wanted a better country. And so God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has made a city for them.

17 B y faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

Because Abraham had faith, when he was tested, he gave his son Isaac as a gift on the altar in worship. God had made a promise to Abraham that He would give him a son. And yet Abraham was willing to give his only son as a gift on the altar in worship.

18 o f whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called,

God had said to Abraham, “Your family will come from Isaac.”

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

Abraham believed God was able to bring Isaac back to life again. And so it may be said that Abraham did receive him back from death.

20 B y faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning what they should become.

Because Isaac had faith, he said that good would come to Jacob and Esau in the future.

21 B y faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

Because Jacob had faith, he said that good would come to each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying. He used his walking stick to hold him up as he prayed to God.

22 B y faith Joseph, as he died, made mention of the departing of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones.

Because Joseph had faith, he spoke of the Jews leaving the country of Egypt. He was going to die soon, and he told them to bury his body in the country where they were going.

23 B y faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

Because of faith, Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months. They saw that he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king when he said that all baby boys should be killed.

24 B y faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

Because Moses had faith, he would not be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he grew up.

25 c hoosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,

He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of having fun doing sinful things for awhile.

26 e steeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

Any shame that he suffered for Christ was worth more than all the riches in Egypt. He kept his eyes on the reward God was going to give him.

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

Because Moses had faith, he left Egypt. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses did not turn from the right way but kept seeing God in front of him.

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

Because Moses had faith, he told all the Jews to put blood over their doors. Then the angel of death would pass over their houses and not kill their oldest sons.

29 B y faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempted to do and were drowned.

Because the Jews had faith, they went through the Red Sea as if they were on dry ground. But when the people of Egypt tried to go through, they were all killed by the water.

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

Because the Jews had faith, the walls of the city of Jericho fell down after the Jews had walked around the city for seven days.

31 B y faith the harlot Rahab did not perish together with the disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

Because Rahab had faith, she was kept from being killed along with those who did not obey God. She was a woman who sold the use of her body. But she helped the men who had come in secret to look over the country. There Were Many More Who Had Faith in God

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,

What more should I say? There is not enough time to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the early preachers.

33 w ho by faith won kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

It was because these people had faith that they won wars over other countries. They were good leaders. They received what God promised to them. They closed the mouths of lions

34 q uenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, were made valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of foreign enemies;

and stopped fire that was burning. They got away from being killed with swords. They were made strong again after they had been weak and sick. They were strong in war. They made fighting men from other countries run home.

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

It was because some women had faith that they received their dead back to life. Others chose to be beaten instead of being set free, because they would not turn against God. In this way, they would be raised to a better life.

36 a nd others experienced cruel mockings and scourgings, and added to this, bonds and imprisonment;

Others were talked against. Some were beaten. Some were put in chains and in prison.

37 t hey were stoned; they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; poor, afflicted, mistreated,

They were killed by stones being thrown at them. People were cut in pieces. They were tested. They were killed with swords. They wore skins of sheep and goats and had nothing they could call their own. They were hungry and sick. Everyone was bad to them.

38 ( of whom the world was not worthy); they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.

They walked around in deserts and in mountains. They looked for caves and holes in the earth to live in. They were too good for this world.

39 A nd these all, approved by testimony of faith, received not the promise,

It was because of their faith that God was pleased with them. But they did not receive what God had promised.

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

God had planned something better for us. These men could not be made perfect without us.