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

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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

For by it the men of old gained approval.

3 T hrough 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.

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4 B y 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.

By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

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.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

6 B ut 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.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

7 B y 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.

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 B y 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.

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 B y 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:

By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

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

for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 T hrough 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.

By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12 T herefore 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.

Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 T hese 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.

All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

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

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

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

And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 B ut 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.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared 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,

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

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

it was he to whom it was said, “ In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”

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

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

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

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

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

By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

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

By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 B y 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.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

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

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

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

choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

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

considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

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

By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

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

By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

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

By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

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

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

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

By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32 A nd 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:

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

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

who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34 Q uenched 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.

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

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

Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

36 A nd others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

37 T hey were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, 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.

( men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

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

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

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

because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.