Hebrews 11-12

Complete Jewish Bible

11 Trusting^[a] is being confident of what we hope for, convinced about things we do not see. ² It was for this that Scripture attested the merit of the people of old.

³ By trusting, we understand that the universe was created through a spoken word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being out of existing phenomena.

⁴ By trusting, Hevel offered a greater sacrifice than Kayin; because of this, he was attested as righteous, with God giving him this testimony on the ground of his gifts. Through having trusted, he still continues to speak, even though he is dead.

⁵ By trusting, Hanokh was taken away from this life without seeing death — “He was not to be found, because God took him away” — for he has been attested as having been, prior to being taken away, well pleasing to God.^{[b] 6} And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God, because whoever approaches him must trust that he does exist and that he becomes a Rewarder to those who seek him out.

⁷ By trusting, Noach, after receiving divine warning about things as yet unseen, was filled with holy fear and built an ark to save his household. Through this trusting, he put the world under condemnation and received the righteousness that comes from trusting.

⁸ By trusting, Avraham obeyed, after being called to go out^[c] to a place which God would give him as a possession; indeed, he went out without knowing where he was going. ⁹ By trusting, he lived as a temporary resident in the Land of the promise, as if it were not his, staying in tents with Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov, who were to receive what was promised along with him. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with permanent foundations, of which the architect and builder is God.

¹¹ By trusting, he received potency to father a child, even when he was past the age for it, as was Sarah herself; because he regarded the One who had made the promise as trustworthy. ¹² Therefore this one man, who was virtually dead, fathered descendants

¹³ All these people kept on trusting until they died, without receiving what had been promised. They had only seen it and welcomed it from a distance, while acknowledging that they were aliens and temporary residents on the earth.^{[e] 14} For people who speak this way make it clear that they are looking for a fatherland. ¹⁵ Now if they were to keep recalling the one they left, they would have an opportunity to return; ¹⁶ but as it is, they aspire to a better fatherland, a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By trusting, Avraham, when he was put to the test, offered up Yitz’chak as a sacrifice. Yes, he offered up his only son, he who had received the promises, ¹⁸ to whom it had been said, “What is called your ‘seed’ will be in Yitz’chak.”^{[f] 19} For he had concluded that God could even raise people from the dead! And, figuratively speaking, he did so receive him.

²⁰ By trusting, Yitz’chak in his blessings over Ya‘akov and Esav made reference to events yet to come.

²¹ By trusting, Ya‘akov, when he was dying, blessed each of Yosef’s sons, leaning on his walking-stick as he bowed in prayer.^[g]

²² By trusting, Yosef, near the end of his life, remembered about the Exodus of the people of Isra’el and gave instructions about what to do with his bones.

²³ By trusting, the parents of Moshe hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child,^[h] and they weren’t afraid of the king’s decree.

²⁴ By trusting, Moshe, after he had grown up,^[i] refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ²⁵ He chose being mistreated along with God’s people rather than enjoying the passing pleasures of sin. ²⁶ He had come to regard abuse suffered on behalf of the Messiah as greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he kept his eyes fixed on the reward.

²⁷ By trusting, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered as one who sees the unseen.

²⁸ By trusting, he obeyed the requirements for the Pesach, including the smearing of the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Isra’el.

²⁹ By trusting, they walked through the Red Sea as through dry land; when the Egyptians tried to do it, the sea swallowed them up.

³⁰ By trusting, the walls of Yericho fell down — after the people had marched around them for seven days.

³¹ By trusting, Rachav the prostitute welcomed the spies and therefore did not die along with those who were disobedient.

³² What more should I say? There isn’t time to tell about Gid‘on, Barak, Shimshon, Yiftach, David, Sh’mu’el and the prophets; ³³ who, through trusting, conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, received what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,^{[j] 34} quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, had their weakness turned to strength, grew mighty in battle and routed foreign armies. ³⁵ Women received back their dead resurrected; other people were stretched on the rack and beaten to death, refusing to be ransomed, so that they would gain a better resurrection. ³⁶ Others underwent the trials of being mocked and whipped, then chained and imprisoned. ³⁷ They were stoned, sawed in two, murdered by the sword; they went about clothed in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, mistreated, ³⁸ wandering about in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground! The world was not worthy of them!

³⁹ All of these had their merit attested because of their trusting. Nevertheless, they did not receive what had been promised, ⁴⁰ because God had planned something better that would involve us, so that only with us would they be brought to the goal.

12 So then, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us, too, put aside every impediment — that is, the sin which easily hampers our forward movement — and keep running with endurance in the contest set before us, ² looking away to the Initiator and Completer of that trusting,^[k] Yeshua — who, in exchange for obtaining the joy set before him, endured execution on a stake as a criminal, scorning the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.^{[l] 3} Yes, think about him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you won’t grow tired or become despondent. ⁴ You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in the contest against sin.

⁵ Also you have forgotten the counsel which speaks with you as sons:

⁷ Regard your endurance as discipline; God is dealing with you as sons. For what son goes undisciplined by his father? ⁸ All legitimate sons undergo discipline; so if you don’t, you’re a mamzer and not a son!

⁹ Furthermore, we had physical fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them; how much more should we submit to our spiritual Father and live! ¹⁰ For they disciplined us only for a short time and only as best they could; but he disciplines us in a way that provides genuine benefit to us and enables us to share in his holiness.

¹¹ Now, all discipline, while it is happening, does indeed seem painful, not enjoyable; but for those who have been trained by it, it later produces its peaceful fruit, which is righteousness. ¹² So,

¹³ and

so that what has been injured will not get wrenched out of joint but rather will be healed.

¹⁴ Keep pursuing shalom with everyone and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. ¹⁵ See to it that no one misses out on God’s grace, that no root of bitterness^[p] springing up causes trouble and thus contaminates many, ¹⁶ and that no one is sexually immoral, or godless like Esav, who in exchange for a single meal gave up his rights as the firstborn. ¹⁷ For you know that afterwards, when he wanted to obtain his father’s blessing, he was rejected; indeed, even though he sought it with tears, his change of heart was to no avail.

¹⁸ For you have not come to a tangible mountain, to an ignited fire, to darkness, to murk, to a whirlwind, ¹⁹ to the sound of a shofar, and to a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further message be given to them — ²⁰ for they couldn’t bear what was being commanded them, “If even an animal touches the mountain, it is to be stoned to death”;^{[q] 21} and so terrifying was the sight that Moshe said, “I am quaking with dread.”^[r]

²² On the contrary, you have come to Mount Tziyon, that is, the city of the living God, heavenly Yerushalayim; to myriads of angels in festive assembly; ²³ to a community of the firstborn whose names have been recorded in heaven; to a Judge who is God of everyone; to spirits of righteous people who have been brought to the goal; ²⁴ to the mediator of a new covenant, Yeshua; and to the sprinkled blood that speaks better things than that of Hevel.

²⁵ See that you don’t reject the One speaking! For if those did not escape who rejected him when he gave divine warning on earth, think how much less we will escape if we turn away from him when he warns from heaven. ²⁶ Even then, his voice shook the earth; but now, he has made this promise:

²⁷ And this phrase, “one more time,” makes clear that the things shaken are removed, since they are created things, so that the things not shaken may remain. ²⁸ Therefore, since we have received an unshakeable Kingdom, let us have grace, through which we may offer service that will please God, with reverence and fear. ²⁹ For indeed,