The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the (A)certainty of things [a](B)hoped for, a [b]proof of (C)things not seen. For by it the (D)people of old [c](E)gained approval.

By faith we understand that the [d](F)world has been created (G)by the word of God so that what is seen (H)has not been made out of things that are visible. By faith (I)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was (J)attested to be righteous, God testifying [e]about his (K)gifts, and through [f]faith, though (L)he is dead, he still speaks. By faith (M)Enoch was taken up so that he would not (N)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who (O)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. By faith (P)Noah, being (Q)warned by God about (R)things not yet seen, [g](S)in reverence (T)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of (U)the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith (V)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [h]by going out to a place which he was to (W)receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a stranger in (X)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (Y)living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (Z)fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for (AA)the city which has (AB)foundations, (AC)whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even (AD)Sarah herself received [i]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (AE)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and (AF)one who was as good as dead [j]at that, there were born descendants who were (AG)just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

13 (AH)All these died in faith, (AI)without receiving the promises, but (AJ)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and (AK)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been [k]thinking of that country which they left, (AL)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a (AM)heavenly one. Therefore (AN)God is not [l]ashamed to be (AO)called their God; for (AP)He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith (AQ)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had (AR)received the promises was offering up his [m]only son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “(AS)Through Isaac your [n]descendants shall be named.” 19 [o]He considered that (AT)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [p]as a [q](AU)type. 20 By faith (AV)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith (AW)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and (AX)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith (AY)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 By faith (AZ)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the (BA)king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, (BB)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to (BC)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 (BD)considering the [r]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the (BE)reward. 27 By faith he (BF)left Egypt, not (BG)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though (BH)seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [s](BI)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that (BJ)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they (BK)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [t]drowned.

30 By faith (BL)the walls of Jericho fell down [u](BM)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute (BN)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [v]in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of (BO)Gideon, (BP)Barak, (BQ)Samson, (BR)Jephthah, of (BS)David and (BT)Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith (BU)conquered kingdoms, (BV)performed acts of righteousness, (BW)obtained promises, (BX)shut the mouths of lions, 34 (BY)quenched the power of fire, (BZ)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, (CA)became mighty in war, (CB)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (CC)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [w]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [x]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, (CD)chains and imprisonment. 37 They were (CE)stoned, they were sawn in two, [y]they were tempted, they were (CF)put to death with the sword; they went about (CG)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, (CH)tormented 38 (people of whom the world was not worthy), (CI)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes [z]in the ground.

39 And all these, having (CJ)gained approval through their faith, (CK)did not receive [aa]what was promised, 40 because God had [ab]provided (CL)something better for us, so that (CM)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 Or expected
  2. Hebrews 11:1 Or conviction about
  3. Hebrews 11:2 Lit obtained a good testimony
  4. Hebrews 11:3 Or worlds were; lit ages
  5. Hebrews 11:4 I.e., by receiving his gifts
  6. Hebrews 11:4 Lit it
  7. Hebrews 11:7 Or was reverent and prepared
  8. Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
  9. Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
  10. Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
  11. Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
  12. Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
  13. Hebrews 11:17 I.e., only son with Sarah
  14. Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
  15. Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
  16. Hebrews 11:19 Lit in
  17. Hebrews 11:19 I.e., of resurrection, figuratively, pointing to the future
  18. Hebrews 11:26 I.e., insults like those later suffered by Christ
  19. Hebrews 11:28 Lit has kept
  20. Hebrews 11:29 Lit swallowed up
  21. Hebrews 11:30 Lit after they had been encircled for
  22. Hebrews 11:31 Lit with
  23. Hebrews 11:35 Lit redemption
  24. Hebrews 11:36 Lit received the trial of
  25. Hebrews 11:37 One early ms does not contain they were tempted
  26. Hebrews 11:38 Lit of
  27. Hebrews 11:39 Lit the promise
  28. Hebrews 11:40 Or foreseen

God’s Final Word in His Son

God, after He (A)spoke long ago to the fathers in (B)the prophets in many portions and (C)in many ways, [a](D)in these last days (E)has spoken to us [b]in His (F)Son, whom He appointed (G)heir of all things, (H)through whom He also made the [c](I)world. [d]And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact (J)representation of His nature, and [e](K)upholds all things by [f]the word of His power. When He had made (L)purification of sins, He (M)sat down at the right hand of the (N)Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, to the extent that He has inherited a more excellent (O)name than they.

For to which of the angels did He ever say,

(P)You are My Son,
Today I have fathered You”?

And again,

(Q)I will be a Father to Him
And He will be a Son to Me”?

And [g]when He again (R)brings the firstborn into [h](S)the world, He says,

(T)And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

And regarding the angels He says,

(U)He makes His angels winds,
And His ministers a flame of fire.”

But regarding the Son He says,

(V)Your throne, God, is forever and ever,
And the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of [i]His kingdom.
(W)You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
(X)Therefore God, Your God, has (Y)anointed You
With the oil of joy above Your companions.”

10 And,

(Z)You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
11 (AA)They will perish, but You remain;
(AB)And they all will [j]wear out like a garment,
12 (AC)And like a robe You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are (AD)the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said,

(AE)Sit at My right hand,
(AF)Until I make Your enemies
A footstool for Your feet”?

14 Are they not all (AG)ministering spirits, sent out to provide service for the sake of those who will (AH)inherit (AI)salvation?

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 1:2 Or at the end of these days
  2. Hebrews 1:2 Or in the person of a Son; lit in Son
  3. Hebrews 1:2 Lit ages
  4. Hebrews 1:3 Lit Who being
  5. Hebrews 1:3 Lit upholding
  6. Hebrews 1:3 Or His word of power
  7. Hebrews 1:6 Or again when He brings
  8. Hebrews 1:6 Lit the inhabited earth
  9. Hebrews 1:8 Late mss Your
  10. Hebrews 1:11 Or become old

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