1 N ow faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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 F or by it the men of old gained approval.

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 B y 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.

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 B y 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.

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 B y 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.

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 A nd 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.

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 B y 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.

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 B y 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.

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 B y 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;

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

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

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

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 T herefore 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.

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 A ll 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.

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

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

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

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 B ut 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 B y 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 A nd 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

37 T hey 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

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

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

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

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

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.