1 A hora bien, la fe es la firme seguridad de las realidades que se esperan, la prueba convincente de lo que no se ve.

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

2 P orque por ella alcanzaron buen testimonio los antiguos.

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

3 P or la fe entendemos que el universo fue enteramente organizado por la palabra de Dios, de modo que lo que se ve fue hecho de cosas no visibles.

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 or la fe, Abel ofreció a Dios más excelente sacrificio que Caín, por lo cual alcanzó testimonio de que era justo, dando Dios testimonio sobre sus ofrendas; y muerto, aún habla por ella.

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 or la fe, Enoc fue trasladado para no ver muerte, y no fue hallado, porque lo trasladó Dios; y antes que fuese trasladado, tuvo testimonio de haber agradado a Dios.

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 Y sin fe es imposible agradar a Dios; porque es necesario que el que se acerca a Dios crea que le hay, y que es galardonador de los que le buscan.

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 or la fe, Noé, cuando fue advertido por Dios acerca de cosas que aún no se veían, con reverencia preparó un arca para salvación de su casa; y por esa fe condenó al mundo, y fue hecho heredero de la justicia que es según la fe.

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 or la fe, Abraham, siendo llamado, obedeció para salir al lugar que había de recibir como herencia; y salió sin saber adónde iba.

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 or la fe, habitó como extranjero en la tierra prometida como en tierra ajena, morando en tiendas con Isaac y Jacob, coherederos de la misma promesa;

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 p orque esperaba la ciudad que tiene fundamentos, cuyo artífice y constructor es Dios.

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 or la fe, también la misma Sara, siendo estéril, recibió poder para concebir; y dio a luz aun fuera del tiempo de la edad, porque creyó que era fiel quien lo había prometido.

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 P or lo cual también, de uno, y ése ya muerto en cuanto a esto, salió una descendencia como las estrellas del cielo en multitud, y como la arena innumerable que está a la orilla del mar.

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 C onforme a la fe murieron todos éstos sin haber recibido lo prometido, sino mirándolo de lejos, y creyéndolo, y saludándolo, y confesando que eran extranjeros y peregrinos sobre la tierra.

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 P orque los que esto dicen, claramente dan a entender que buscan una patria;

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

15 p ues si hubiesen estado recordándose de aquella de donde salieron, ciertamente tenían tiempo de volver.

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

16 P ero aspiran a una mejor, esto es, celestial; por lo cual Dios no se avergüenza de llamarse Dios de ellos; porque les ha preparado una ciudad.

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 or la fe, Abraham, cuando fue probado, ofreció a Isaac; y el que había recibido las promesas, ofrecía a su unigénito,

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 h abiéndosele dicho: En Isaac te será llamada descendencia;

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

19 c onsiderando que Dios es poderoso para levantar aun de entre los muertos, de donde, en sentido figurado, también le volvió a recibir.

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 or la fe, bendijo Isaac a Jacob y a Esaú respecto a cosas venideras.

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

21 P or la fe, Jacob, al morir, bendijo a cada uno de los hijos de José, y adoró apoyado sobre el extremo de su bordón.

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 or la fe, José, al morir, mencionó la salida de los hijos de Israel, y dio órdenes acerca de sus huesos.

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

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 or la fe, Moisés, hecho ya grande, rehusó llamarse hijo de la hija de Faraón,

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

25 e scogiendo antes ser maltratado con el pueblo de Dios, que gozar de los deleites temporales del pecado,

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

26 t eniendo por mayores riquezas el vituperio de Cristo que los tesoros de los egipcios; porque tenía puesta la mirada en el galardón.

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 or la fe abandonó Egipto, no temiendo la cólera del rey; porque se mantuvo firme, como viendo al Invisible.

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 or la fe, celebró la pascua y la aspersión de la sangre, para que el exterminador de los primogénitos no los tocase a ellos.

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 or la fe, pasaron por el Mar Rojo como por tierra seca; e intentando los egipcios hacer lo mismo, fueron ahogados.

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 or la fe, cayeron los muros de Jericó después de ser rodeados durante siete días.

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 or la fe, Rahab la ramera no pereció juntamente con los desobedientes, habiendo recibido a los espías en paz.

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 ¿ Y qué más digo? Porque el tiempo me faltaría para contar de Gedeón, de Barac, de Sansón, de Jefté, de David, así como de Samuel y de los profetas;

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 q ue mediante la fe conquistaron reinos, hicieron justicia, alcanzaron promesas, taparon bocas de leones,

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 pagaron fuegos impetuosos, escaparon del filo de la espada, se revistieron de poder, siendo débiles, se hicieron fuertes en batallas, pusieron en fuga a ejércitos extranjeros.

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 L as mujeres recibieron sus muertos mediante resurrección; mas otros fueron torturados, no aceptando el rescate, a fin de obtener una mejor resurrección.

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 O tros experimentaron vituperios y azotes, y a más de esto prisiones y cárceles.

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

37 F ueron apedreados, aserrados, puestos a prueba, muertos a filo de espada; anduvieron de acá para allá cubiertos con pieles de ovejas y de cabras, menesterosos, atribulados, maltratados;

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 d e los cuales el mundo no era digno; errando por los desiertos, por los montes, por las cuevas y por las cavernas de la tierra.

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 Y todos éstos, aunque alcanzaron buen testimonio mediante la fe, no recibieron lo prometido;

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

40 p orque Dios había provisto para nosotros algo mejor, para que no fuesen ellos perfeccionados aparte de nosotros.

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