1 N ow faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.

Or la fede è certezza di cose che si sperano, dimostrazione di cose che non si vedono;

2 G od was pleased with the men who had faith who lived long ago.

infatti per mezzo di essa gli antichi ricevettero testimonianza.

3 T hrough faith we understand that the world was made by the Word of God. Things we see were made from what could not be seen.

Per 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.

4 B ecause 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.

Per 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.

5 B ecause 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.

Per 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.

6 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.

Ora 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.

7 B ecause 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.

Per 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.

8 B ecause 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.

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

9 H is 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.

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

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

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

11 B ecause 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.

Per 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.

12 A braham 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.

Perciò 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.

13 T hese 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.

Tutti 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.

14 P eople who say these things show they are looking for a country of their own.

Coloro infatti che dicono tali cose dimostrano che cercano una patria.

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

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

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

Ma 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.

17 B ecause 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.

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

18 G od had said to Abraham, “Your family will come from Isaac.”

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

19 A braham 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.

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

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

Per fede Isacco benedisse Giacobbe ed Esaù, riguardo a cose future.

21 B ecause 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.

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

22 B ecause 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.

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

23 B ecause 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.

Per 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.

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

Per fede Mosé, divenuto adulto, rifiutò di essere chiamato figlio della figlia del Faraone

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

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

26 A ny 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.

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

27 B ecause 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.

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

28 B ecause 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.

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

29 B ecause 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.

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

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

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

31 B ecause 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

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

32 W hat 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.

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,

33 I t 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

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

34 a nd 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.

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

35 I t 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.

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

36 O thers were talked against. Some were beaten. Some were put in chains and in prison.

Altri ancora subirono scherni e flagelli, e anche catene e prigionia.

37 T hey 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.

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

38 T hey 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.

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

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

Eppure tutti costoro, pur avendo avuto buona testimonianza mediante la fede, non ottennero la promessa,

40 G od had planned something better for us. These men could not be made perfect without us.

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