1 O r la foi est une ferme assurance des choses qu'on espère, une démonstration de celles qu'on ne voit pas.

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

2 P our l'avoir possédée, les anciens ont obtenu un témoignage favorable.

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

3 C 'est par la foi que nous reconnaissons que le monde a été formé par la parole de Dieu, en sorte que ce qu'on voit n'a pas été fait de choses visibles.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'Abel offrit à Dieu un sacrifice plus excellent que celui de Caïn; c'est par elle qu'il fut déclaré juste, Dieu approuvant ses offrandes; et c'est par elle qu'il parle encore, quoique mort.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'Énoch fut enlevé pour qu'il ne vît point la mort, et qu'il ne parut plus parce Dieu l'avait enlevé; car, avant son enlèvement, il avait reçu le témoignage qu'il était agréable à Dieu.

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 O r sans la foi il est impossible de lui être agréable; car il faut que celui qui s'approche de Dieu croie que Dieu existe, et qu'il est le rémunérateur de ceux qui le cherchent.

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 C 'est par la foi que Noé, divinement averti des choses qu'on ne voyait pas encore, et saisi d'une crainte respectueuse, construisit une arche pour sauver sa famille; c'est par elle qu'il condamna le monde, et devint héritier de la justice qui s'obtient par la foi.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'Abraham, lors de sa vocation, obéit et partit pour un lieu qu'il devait recevoir en héritage, et qu'il partit sans savoir où il allait.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'il vint s'établir dans la terre promise comme dans une terre étrangère, habitant sous des tentes, ainsi qu'Isaac et Jacob, les cohéritiers de la même promesse.

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 C ar il attendait la cité qui a de solides fondements, celle dont Dieu est l'architecte et le constructeur.

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 C 'est par la foi que Sara elle-même, malgré son âge avancé, fut rendue capable d'avoir une postérité, parce qu'elle crut à la fidélité de celui qui avait fait la promesse.

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 C 'est pourquoi d'un seul homme, déjà usé de corps, naquit une postérité nombreuse comme les étoiles du ciel, comme le sable qui est sur le bord de la mer et qu'on ne peut compter.

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 C 'est dans la foi qu'ils sont tous morts, sans avoir obtenu les choses promises; mais ils les ont vues et saluées de loin, reconnaissant qu'ils étaient étrangers et voyageurs sur la terre.

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 C eux qui parlent ainsi montrent qu'ils cherchent une patrie.

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

15 S 'ils avaient eu en vue celle d'où ils étaient sortis, ils auraient eu le temps d'y retourner.

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

16 M ais maintenant ils en désirent une meilleure, c'est-à-dire une céleste. C'est pourquoi Dieu n'a pas honte d'être appelé leur Dieu, car il leur a préparé une cité.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'Abraham offrit Isaac, lorsqu'il fut mis à l'épreuve, et qu'il offrit son fils unique, lui qui avait reçu les promesses,

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 e t à qui il avait été dit: En Isaac sera nommée pour toi une postérité.

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

19 I l pensait que Dieu est puissant, même pour ressusciter les morts; aussi le recouvra-t-il par une sorte de résurrection.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'Isaac bénit Jacob et Ésaü, en vue des choses à venir.

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

21 C 'est par la foi que Jacob mourant bénit chacun des fils de Joseph, et qu'il adora, appuyé sur l'extrémité de son bâton.

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 C 'est par la foi que Joseph mourant fit mention de la sortie des fils d'Israël, et qu'il donna des ordres au sujet de ses os.

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 C 'est par la foi que Moïse, à sa naissance, fut caché pendant trois mois par ses parents, parce qu'ils virent que l'enfant était beau, et qu'ils ne craignirent pas l'ordre du roi.

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 C 'est par la foi que Moïse, devenu grand, refusa d'être appelé fils de la fille de Pharaon,

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

25 a imant mieux être maltraité avec le peuple de Dieu que d'avoir pour un temps la jouissance du péché,

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

26 r egardant l'opprobre de Christ comme une richesse plus grande que les trésors de l'Égypte, car il avait les yeux fixés sur la rémunération.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'il quitta l'Égypte, sans être effrayé de la colère du roi; car il se montra ferme, comme voyant celui qui est 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 C 'est par la foi qu'il fit la Pâque et l'aspersion du sang, afin que l'exterminateur ne touchât pas aux premiers-nés des Israélites.

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 C 'est par la foi qu'ils traversèrent la mer Rouge comme un lieu sec, tandis que les Égyptiens qui en firent la tentative furent engloutis.

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 C 'est par la foi que les murailles de Jéricho tombèrent, après qu'on en eut fait le tour pendant sept jours.

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 C 'est par la foi que Rahab la prostituée ne périt pas avec les rebelles, parce qu'elle avait reçu les espions avec bienveillance.

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 E t que dirai-je encore? Car le temps me manquerait pour parler de Gédéon, de Barak, de Samson, de Jephthé, de David, de Samuel, et des prophètes,

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 q ui, par la foi, vainquirent des royaumes, exercèrent la justice, obtinrent des promesses, fermèrent la gueule des 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 é teignirent la puissance du feu, échappèrent au tranchant de l'épée, guérirent de leurs maladies, furent vaillants à la guerre, mirent en fuite des armées étrangères.

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 D es femmes recouvrèrent leurs morts par la résurrection; d'autres furent livrés aux tourments, et n'acceptèrent point de délivrance, afin d'obtenir une meilleure résurrection;

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 d 'autres subirent les moqueries et le fouet, les chaînes et la prison;

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

37 i ls furent lapidés, sciés, torturés, ils moururent tués par l'épée, ils allèrent çà et là vêtus de peaux de brebis et de peaux de chèvres, dénués de tout, persécutés, maltraités,

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 e ux dont le monde n'était pas digne, errants dans les déserts et les montagnes, dans les cavernes et les antres de la terre.

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 T ous ceux-là, à la foi desquels il a été rendu témoignage, n'ont pas obtenu ce qui leur était promis,

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

40 D ieu ayant en vue quelque chose de meilleur pour nous, afin qu'ils ne parvinssent pas sans nous à la perfection.

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