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

Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

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

For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

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.

By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

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.

By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

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.

By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

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.

Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

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.

By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

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.

By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

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.

By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

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.

For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

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.

By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

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.

Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

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.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

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

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

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

If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

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.

But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

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.

By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;

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

even he to whom it was said, “your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac”;

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.

concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

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

By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

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.

By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

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.

By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.

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.

By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

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

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

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

choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;

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.

accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

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.

By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is 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.

By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

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.

By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

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.

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

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

By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

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.

What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;

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

who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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.

quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.

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.

Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

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

Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

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.

They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

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.

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

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

These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn’t receive the promise,

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

God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.