1 O r la fede è certezza di cose che si sperano, dimostrazione di cose che non si vedono;

Now 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.

2 i nfatti per mezzo di essa gli antichi ricevettero testimonianza.

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

3 P er fede intendiamo che l'universo è stato formato per mezzo della parola di Dio, sí che le cose che si vedono non vennero all'esistenza da cose apparenti.

By 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.

4 P er fede Abele offrí a Dio un sacrificio piú eccellente di quello di Caino; per essa egli ricevette la testimonianza che era giusto, quando Dio attestò di gradire le sue offerte; e per mezzo di essa benché morto, egli parla ancora.

by 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.

5 P er fede Enok fu trasferito in cielo perché non vedesse la morte, e non fu piú trovato perché Dio lo aveva trasferito; prima infatti di essere portato via, egli ricevette la testimonianza che era piaciuto a Dio.

Because 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.

6 O ra senza fede è impossibile piacergli, perché chi si accosta a Dio deve credere che egli è, e che egli è il rimuneratore di quelli che lo cercano.

But 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.

7 P er fede Noè, avvertito divinamente di cose che ancora non si vedevano e mosso da santo timore, preparò per la salvezza della sua famiglia l'arca, mediante la quale condannò il mondo e divenne erede della giustizia che si ottiene mediante la fede.

by 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).

8 P er fede Abrahamo, quando fu chiamato, ubbidí per andarsene verso il luogo che doveva ricevere in eredità; e partí non sapendo dove andava.

by 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.

9 P er fede Abrahamo dimorò nella terra promessa, come in paese straniero, abitando in tende con Isacco e Giacobbe, eredi con lui della stessa promessa,

by 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.

10 p erché aspettava la città che ha i fondamenti, il cui architetto e costruttore è Dio.

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

11 P er fede anche Sara stessa, benché avesse oltrepassato l'età, ricevette forza per concepire il seme e partorì perché ritenne fedele colui che aveva fatto la promessa.

Because 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.

12 P erciò da un sol uomo, e questi come fosse morto, sono nati discendenti numerosi come le stelle del cielo e come la sabbia lungo la riva del mare, che non si può contare.

So 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.

13 T utti costoro sono morti nella fede, senza aver ricevuto le cose promesse ma, vedutele da lontano, essi ne furono persuasi e le accolsero con gioia, confessando di essere forestieri e pellegrini sulla terra.

These 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.

14 C oloro infatti che dicono tali cose dimostrano che cercano una patria.

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

15 E se avessero veramente avuto in mente quella da cui erano usciti, avrebbero avuto il tempo per ritornarvi.

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

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

But 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.

17 P er fede Abrahamo, messo alla prova, offrí Isacco e colui che aveva ricevuto le promesse offrí il suo unigenito

By 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,

18 a nche se Dio gli aveva detto «In Isacco avrai una discendenza che porterà il tuo nome»,

Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be reckoned.

19 p erché Abrahamo riteneva che Dio era potente da risuscitarlo anche dai morti; per cui lo riebbe come per una specie di risurrezione.

For 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.

20 P er fede Isacco benedisse Giacobbe ed Esaù, riguardo a cose future.

faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob and Esau.

21 P er fede Giacobbe, morente, benedisse ciascuno dei figli di Giuseppe e adorò, appoggiato alla sommità del suo bastone.

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

22 P er fede Giuseppe, quando stava per morire, fece menzione dell'esodo dei figli d'Israele e diede ordini riguardo alle sue ossa.

by 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.

23 P er fede Mosé, quando nacque, fu nascosto per tre mesi dai suoi genitori, perché essi videro che il bambino era bello e non temettero l'ordine del re.

by 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.

24 P er fede Mosé, divenuto adulto, rifiutò di essere chiamato figlio della figlia del Faraone

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

25 s cegliendo piuttosto di essere maltrattato col popolo di Dio che di godere per breve tempo i piaceri del peccato,

Because 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.

26 s timando il vituperio di Cristo ricchezza maggiore dei tesori di Egitto, perché aveva lo sguardo rivolto alla ricompensa.

He 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).

27 P er fede lasciò l'Egitto senza temere l'ira del re, perché rimase fermo come se vedesse colui che è invisibile.

by 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.

28 P er fede celebrò la Pasqua e fece l'aspersione del sangue, affinché colui che distruggeva i primogeniti non toccasse quelli d'Israele.

By 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.

29 P er fede passarono il Mar Rosso come se attraversassero una terra asciutta, quando invece gli Egiziani tentarono di fare ciò, furono inghiottiti.

by 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.

30 P er fede caddero le mura di Gerico, dopo che vi avevano girato attorno per sette giorni.

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

31 P er fede Rahab, la prostituta, non perí con gli increduli, perché aveva accolto in pace le spie.

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

32 E che dirò di piú? Infatti mi mancherebbe il tempo se volessi raccontare di Gedeone, di Barak, di Sansone, di Iefte, di Davide, di Samuele e dei profeti,

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

33 i quali per fede vinsero regni, praticarono la giustizia, conseguirono le promesse, turarono le gole dei leoni,

Who by faith subdued kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promised blessings, closed the mouths of lions,

34 s pensero la forza del fuoco, scamparono al taglio della spada, trassero forza dalla debolezza, divennero forti in guerra, misero in fuga gli eserciti stranieri.

Extinguished 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.

35 L e donne riebbero per risurrezione i loro morti altri invece furono distesi sulla ruota e martoriati, non accettando la liberazione, per ottenere una migliore risurrezione.

women 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.

36 A ltri ancora subirono scherni e flagelli, e anche catene e prigionia.

Others had to suffer the trial of mocking and scourging and even chains and imprisonment.

37 F urono lapidati, segati, tentati, morirono uccisi di spada, andarono in giro coperti di pelli di pecora e di capra, bisognosi, afflitti, maltrattati

They 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—

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

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

39 E ppure tutti costoro, pur avendo avuto buona testimonianza mediante la fede, non ottennero la promessa,

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

40 p erché Dio aveva provveduto per noi qualcosa di meglio, affinché essi non giungessero alla perfezione senza di noi.

Because 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.