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

Ahora bien, la fe es la certeza (sustancia) de lo que se espera, la convicción (demostración) de lo que no se ve.

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

Porque por ella recibieron aprobación (testimonio) los antiguos (antepasados).

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.

Por la fe entendemos que el universo fue preparado por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve no fue hecho de cosas visibles.

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.

Por la fe Abel ofreció a Dios un mejor sacrificio que Caín, por lo cual alcanzó el testimonio de que era justo, dando Dios testimonio de sus ofrendas; y por la fe, estando muerto, todavía habla.

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.

Por la fe Enoc fue trasladado al cielo para que no viera muerte. y no fue hallado porque Dios lo traslado; porque antes de ser trasladado recibió testimonio de haber agradado a Dios.

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.

Y sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios. Porque es necesario que el que se acerca a Dios crea que El existe, y que recompensa a los que Lo buscan.

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.

Por la fe Noé, siendo advertido por Dios acerca de cosas que aún no se veían, con temor reverente preparó un arca para la salvación de su casa, por la cual condenó al mundo, y llegó a ser heredero de la justicia que es según la fe.

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.

Por la fe Abraham, al ser llamado, obedeció, saliendo para un lugar que había de recibir como herencia; y salió sin saber adónde iba.

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.

Por la fe habitó como extranjero en la tierra de la promesa como en tierra extraña, viviendo en tiendas como Isaac y Jacob, coherederos de la misma promesa,

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.

porque esperaba la ciudad que tiene cimientos, cuyo arquitecto y constructor es Dios.

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.

También por la fe Sara misma recibió fuerza para concebir, aun pasada ya la edad propicia, pues consideró fiel a Aquél que lo había prometido.

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.

Por lo cual también nació de uno, y éste casi muerto con respecto a esto, una descendencia como las estrellas del cielo en numero, e innumerable como la arena que esta a la orilla del mar.

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.

Todos éstos murieron en fe, sin haber recibido las promesas, pero habiéndolas visto desde lejos y aceptado con gusto, confesando que eran extranjeros y peregrinos (expatriados) sobre la tierra.

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

Porque los que dicen tales cosas, claramente dan a entender que buscan una patria propia.

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

Y si en verdad hubieran estado pensando en aquella patria de donde salieron, habrían tenido oportunidad de volver.

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.

Pero en realidad, anhelan una patria mejor, es decir, la celestial. Por lo cual, Dios no se avergüenza de ser llamado Dios de ellos, pues les ha preparado una ciudad.

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.

Por la fe Abraham, cuando fue probado, ofreció a Isaac; y el que había recibido las promesas ofrecía a su único hijo.

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

Fue a él a quien se le dijo: “ En Isaac te sera llamada descendencia.”

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.

El consideró que Dios era poderoso para levantar aun de entre los muertos, de donde también, en sentido figurado, lo volvió a recibir.

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

Por la fe Isaac bendijo a Jacob y a Esaú, aun respecto a cosas futuras.

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.

Por la fe Jacob, al morir, bendijo a cada uno de los hijos de José, y adoró, apoyándose sobre el extremo de su bastón.

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.

Por la fe José, al morir, mencionó el éxodo de los Israelitas, y dio instrucciones acerca de sus huesos.

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.

Por la fe Moisés, cuando nació, fue escondido por sus padres durante tres meses, porque vieron que era un niño hermoso y no temieron el edicto del rey.

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

Por la fe Moisés, cuando ya era grande, rehusó ser llamado hijo de la hija de Faraón,

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

escogiendo más bien ser maltratado con el pueblo de Dios, que gozar de los placeres temporales del pecado.

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.

Consideró como mayores riquezas el oprobio de Cristo (el Mesías) que los tesoros de Egipto, porque tenía la mirada puesta en la recompensa.

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.

Por la fe Moisés salió de Egipto sin temer la ira del rey, porque se mantuvo firme como viendo al Invisible.

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.

Por la fe celebró la Pascua y el rociamiento de la sangre, para que el exterminador de los primogénitos no los tocara a ellos.

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.

Por la fe pasaron el Mar Rojo como por tierra seca, y cuando los Egipcios intentaron hacer lo mismo, se ahogaron.

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.

Por la fe cayeron los muros de Jericó, después de ser rodeados por siete días.

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

Por la fe la ramera Rahab no pereció con los desobedientes, por haber recibido a los espías en paz.

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.

¿Y qué más diré? Pues el tiempo me faltaría para contar de Gedeón, Barac, Sansón, Jefté, David, Samuel y los profetas;

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

quienes por la fe conquistaron reinos, hicieron justicia, obtuvieron promesas, cerraron bocas de leones,

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.

apagaron la violencia del fuego, escaparon del filo de la espada. Siendo débiles, fueron hechos fuertes, se hicieron poderosos en la guerra, pusieron en fuga a ejércitos extranjeros.

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.

Las mujeres recibieron a sus muertos mediante la resurrección. Otros fueron torturados, no aceptando su liberación a fin de obtener una mejor resurrección.

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

Otros experimentaron insultos y azotes, y hasta cadenas y prisiones.

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.

Fueron apedreados, aserrados, tentados, muertos a espada. Anduvieron de aquí para allá cubiertos con pieles de ovejas y de cabras; destituidos, afligidos, maltratados

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.

(de los cuales el mundo no era digno), errantes por desiertos y montañas, por cuevas y cavernas de la tierra.

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

Y todos éstos, habiendo obtenido aprobación (testimonio) por su fe, no recibieron la promesa,

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

porque Dios había provisto algo mejor para nosotros, a fin de que ellos no fueran hechos perfectos sin nosotros.