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Hebrews 11
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1Now faith is assurance ofthingshoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2For therein the elders had witness borne to them.
2This is why the people of old were praised by God.
3By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.
3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed by God’s command, so that everything we see was made from things that are not visible.
4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.
4By faith Abel brought a better sacrifice to God than Cain did. Through his faith, he was recognized as righteous when God approved of his gifts. And though Abel is dead, he still speaks to us through his faith.
5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:
5By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven so that he never experienced death. He could not be found because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, he was known as someone who pleased God.
6and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
6It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely look for him.
7By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
7By faith Noah built a large boat to save his family after God warned him about things that had never happened before. In holy fear, he obeyed. By his faith, he showed the world was wrong and he inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as an inheritance. He went even though he didn't know where he was going.
9By faith he became a sojourner 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:
9By faith he lived like a foreigner in the land God promised him. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs to the same promise.
10for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
10Abraham was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, the one designed and built by God.
11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:
11By faith even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was past the age and barren. She believed that God would keep his promise.
12wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.
12So from this one man, who was as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised while they were alive, but they saw it from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were only foreigners and temporary residents here on earth.
14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.
14People who say such things show plainly that they are looking for a country to call their own.
15And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.
15If they had been thinking about the country they came from, they would have had the chance to go back.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
16Instead, they were longing for a better place—a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
17By faith Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God tested him. The man who had received the promises was ready to sacrifice his only son,
18even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:
18even though God had told him, 'Your descendants will come through Isaac.'
19accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.
19Abraham believed that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
20By faith Isaac blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau, concerning their future.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
21By faith Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt and gave instructions about what to do with his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They saw that he was a special child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.
24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
24By faith Moses, when he grew up, refused to be treated as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
25He chose to share the suffering of God’s people rather than enjoy the short-term pleasures of sin.
26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.
26He thought it was better to suffer disgrace for the sake of Christ than to own all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking forward to his great reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
27By faith Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger. He kept going because he kept his eyes on the invisible God.
28By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
28By faith he started the Passover and commanded the blood to be sprinkled on the doorposts, so that the angel of death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.
29By faith the people walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do the same, they were all drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites marched around them for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute was not killed with the people who disobeyed God, because she had welcomed the Israelite spies in peace.
32And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:
32How much more should I say? I don't have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
33Through faith these people conquered kingdoms, did what was right, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions,
34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.
34put out the power of blazing fire, and escaped death by the sword. Their weakness was turned into strength. They became powerful in battle and scattered entire armies.
35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
35Women received their loved ones back from death through resurrection. But others were tortured, refusing to be set free so that they could be raised to a better life.
36and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
36Some were mocked and whipped, while others were chained and thrown into prison.
37they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
37They were killed by stoning, they were sawed in half, and they were killed by the sword. They wandered around wearing skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured.
38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.
38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.