1 C redinţa este o încredere în lucrurile nădăjduite, o certitudine cu privire la lucrurile nevăzute.

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

2 P rin aceasta cei din vechime au fost vorbiţi de bine.

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

3 P rin credinţă înţelegem că veacurile au fost create prin Cuvântul lui Dumnezeu, aşa încât ceea ce se vede a fost făcut din lucruri care nu se văd.

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 P rin credinţă I-a adus Abel lui Dumnezeu o jertfă mai bună decât a lui Cain. Prin aceasta s-a spus despre el că este drept, atunci când Dumnezeu a vorbit de bine despre darurile sale. El a murit, însă prin credinţa sa, el încă vorbeşte.

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 P rin credinţă a fost luat Enoh, ca să nu vadă moartea. Şi n-a mai fost găsit, pentru că Dumnezeu l-a luat. Căci înainte de strămutarea lui s-a depus mărturie că Îi era plăcut lui Dumnezeu.

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 Ş i fără credinţă este imposibil să-I fim plăcuţi, pentru că oricine se apropie de El trebuie să creadă că El există şi că îi răsplăteşte pe cei ce-L caută.

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 P rin credinţă a ascultat Noe, când a fost avertizat cu privire la lucruri pe care el încă nu le vedea, şi a construit o arcă, pentru a-şi salva familia. Prin aceasta el a condamnat lumea şi a devenit un moştenitor al dreptăţii care este potrivit cu credinţa.

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 P rin credinţă a ascultat Avraam când a fost chemat să plece şi să se ducă într-un loc pe care urma să-l primească drept moştenire şi a ieşit fără să ştie unde se duce.

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 P rin credinţă a stat el în ţara promisă, ca într-o ţară străină, locuind în corturi, cu Isaac şi Iacov, care erau moştenitori, împreună cu el, ai aceleiaşi promisiuni.

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 ăci el aştepta cetatea care are temelii, al cărei arhitect şi constructor este Dumnezeu.

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 P rin credinţă a primit Sara puterea de a avea o sămânţă, chiar dacă ea era stearpă, iar Avraam era înaintat în vârstă, deoarece el L-a considerat credincios pe Cel Ce a promis.

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 D e aceea, dintr-un singur om – şi acesta aproape mort – s-au născut urmaşi atât de numeroşi ca stelele de pe cer şi fără număr ca nisipul de pe ţărmul mării.

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 T oţi aceştia au murit crezând, însă fără să primească lucrurile promise, ci doar le-au văzut de departe, le-au salutat şi au mărturisit că sunt străini şi peregrini pe pământ.

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 ei care vorbesc în acest fel arată că sunt în căutarea unei patrii.

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

15 D acă ei s-ar fi gândit la ţara din care au plecat, ar fi avut ocazia să se întoarcă în ea,

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

16 î nsă ei aspirau după o ţară mai bună, adică una cerească. De aceea, lui Dumnezeu nu-I este ruşine să fie numit Dumnezeul lor, pentru că El a pregătit o cetate pentru ei.

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 P rin credinţă l-a jertfit Avraam pe Isaac, atunci când a fost pus la încercare; el, cel care a primit promisiunile, a fost gata să-şi jertfească singurul fiu,

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 c hiar dacă i se spusese: „Prin Isaac îşi va primi numele sămânţa ta.“

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

19 E l s-a gândit că Dumnezeu poate să învie pe cineva din morţi şi, figurat vorbind, aşa l-a primit înapoi.

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 P rin credinţă i-a binecuvântat Isaac pe Iacov şi pe Esau cu privire la viitor.

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

21 P rin credinţă i-a binecuvântat Iacov, când era pe moarte, pe fiecare dintre fiii lui Iosif şi s-a închinat rezemându-se pe vârful toiagului său.

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 P rin credinţă a vorbit Iosif la sfârşitul vieţii sale despre exodul poporului Israel şi a dat porunci cu privire la oasele sale.

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 P rin credinţă a fost ascuns Moise de către părinţii săi timp de trei luni, după ce s-a născut – pentru că au văzut că era un copil frumos şi nu s-au temut de porunca împăratului.

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 P rin credinţă a refuzat Moise, când a crescut, să fie numit „fiul fiicei lui Faraon“,

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

25 a legând mai degrabă să sufere împreună cu poporul lui Dumnezeu, decât să se bucure de păcat pentru puţin timp.

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

26 E l a considerat abuzul suferit pentru Cristos ca fiind o bogăţie mai mare decât bogăţiile Egiptului, pentru că el îşi aţintise privirea la răsplata viitoare.

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 P rin credinţă a ieşit din Egipt, fără să se teamă de mânia monarhului; el a perseverat, ca şi când L-ar fi văzut pe Cel Ce este nevăzut.

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 P rin credinţă a instaurat Paştele şi stropirea cu sânge, pentru ca Nimicitorul să nu-i omoare pe întâii lor născuţi.

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 P rin credinţă a trecut poporul prin Marea Roşie ca pe uscat. Când au încercat însă şi egiptenii lucrul acesta, s-au înecat.

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 P rin credinţă au căzut zidurile Ierihonului, după ce le înconjuraseră timp de şapte zile.

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 P rin credinţă n-a pierit prostituata Rahav împreună cu cei neascultători, pentru că i-a primit bine pe spioni.

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 Ş i ce-aş mai putea spune? N-am suficient timp să vorbesc despre Ghedeon, Barak, Samson, Iefta, David, Samuel şi despre profeţi.

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 P rin credinţă au cucerit ei regate, au administrat dreptatea, au obţinut promisiunile, au închis gurile leilor,

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 a u stins furia flăcărilor, au scăpat de tăişul sabiei; din oameni slabi au fost făcuţi oameni puternici, au devenit tari în război, au alungat armatele străine;

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 f emeile şi-au primit morţii înviaţi; unii au fost torturaţi şi au refuzat să fie eliberaţi, ca să obţină o înviere mai bună,

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 a lţii au îndurat batjocură şi biciuire, şi chiar lanţuri şi închisoare,

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

37 a u fost împroşcaţi cu pietre, au fost tăiaţi în două cu fierăstrăul, au fost ucişi cu sabia, au umblat îmbrăcaţi în piei de oi şi de capre; săraci, persecutaţi, chinuiţi,

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 i, de care lumea nu era vrednică, au pribegit prin pustie şi prin munţi, prin peşteri şi prin gropile pământului.

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 E i toţi au fost vorbiţi de bine pentru credinţa lor, însă n-au primit ceea ce a fost promis,

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

40 î ntrucât Dumnezeu a ales dinainte un plan mai bun pentru noi, ca să nu fie ei făcuţi desăvârşiţi fără noi.

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