希伯来书 11
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
論信心
11 信就是對所盼望的事的把握，是還沒有看見的事的明證。 2 因著這信心，古人得到了稱許。
3 因著信，我們就明白宇宙（“宇宙”或譯：“諸世界”或“眾世代”）是因著 神的話造成的。這樣，那看得見的就是從那看不見的造出來的。
信心的偉人
4 因著信，亞伯比該隱獻上更美的祭品給 神；藉著這信心，他被 神稱許為義人，這是 神指著他的禮物所作的見證；他雖然死了，卻藉著信仍然說話。 5 因著信，以諾被遷去了，使他不至於死，人也找不著他，因為 神把他遷去了。原來在遷去以前，他已經得了 神喜悅他的明證。 6 沒有信，就不能得到 神的喜悅；因為來到 神面前的人，必須信 神存在，並且信他會賞賜那些尋求他的人。 7 因著信，挪亞在還沒有看見的事上，得了 神的警告，就動了敬畏的心，做了一艘方舟，使他全家得救。藉著這信心，他就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那因信而來的義。
8 因著信，亞伯拉罕在蒙召的時候，就聽命往他將要承受為業的地方去；他出去的時候，還不知道要往哪裡去。 9 因著信，他在應許之地寄居，好像是在異鄉，與承受同樣應許的以撒、雅各一樣住在帳棚裡。 10 因為他等待那座有根基的城，就是 神所設計所建造的。 11 因著信，甚至撒拉，她雖然過了生育的年齡，還是能夠懷孕，因為她認為那應許她的是信實的。 12 所以從一個好像已死的人，竟然生出許多子孫來，仿佛天上的星那麼眾多，海邊的沙那麼無數。
13 這些人都是存著信心死了的，還沒有得著所應許的，只不過是從遠處看見，就表示歡迎，又承認他們在世上是異鄉人，是客旅。 14 因為說這樣話的人，是表明他們在尋求一個家鄉。 15 如果他們懷念已經離開了的地方，還有可以回去的機會。 16 但是現在他們所嚮往的，是一個更美的、在天上的家鄉。所以， 神不以他們稱他為 神而覺得羞恥；因為他已經為他們預備了一座城。
17 因著信，亞伯拉罕在受試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上；這就是那歡喜領受應許的人，獻上了自己的獨生子； 18 論到這個兒子，曾經有話說：“以撒生的，才可以稱為你的後裔。” 19 亞伯拉罕認定， 神能使人從死人中復活，因此，就喻意說，他的確從死裡得回他的兒子。 20 因著信，以撒給雅各和以掃祝福，論到將來的事。 21 因著信，雅各臨死的時候，分別為約瑟的兒子祝福，又倚著杖頭敬拜 神。 22 因著信，約瑟臨終的時候，提到以色列子民出埃及的事，並且為自己的骸骨留下遺言。
23 因著信，摩西的父母在摩西生下來以後，因為看見孩子俊美，就把他藏了三個月，不怕王的命令。 24 因著信，摩西長大了以後，就拒絕被稱為法老女兒的兒子。 25 他寧願選擇和 神的子民一同受苦，也不肯享受罪惡中暫時的快樂。 26 在他看來，為著基督受的凌辱，比埃及的財物更寶貴，因為他注視將來的賞賜。 27 因著信，他離開了埃及，不怕王的忿怒；因為他堅定不移，就像看見了人不能看見的 神。 28 因著信，他立了逾越節和灑血的禮，免得那滅命的侵犯以色列人的長子。 29 因著信，他們走過了紅海，好像走過旱地一樣；埃及人也試著要過去，就被淹沒了。 30 因著信，耶利哥的城牆被圍繞了七天，就倒塌了。 31 因著信，妓女喇合和和平平接待了偵察的人，就沒有和那些不順從的人一起滅亡。
32 我還要再說甚麼呢？如果再要述說基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳和眾先知的事，時間就不夠了。 33 他們藉著信，就戰勝了敵國，伸張了正義，得到了應許，堵住了獅子的口， 34 消滅了烈火的威力，逃脫了刀劍的鋒刃，軟弱變成剛強，在戰爭中顯出大能，把外國的軍隊擊退。 35 有些婦女得回從死裡復活的親人；但也有些人忍受了酷刑，不肯接受釋放，為的是要得著更美的復活。 36 又有些人遭受了戲弄、鞭打，甚至捆鎖、監禁； 37 被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，（後期抄本在此加上“受試探”）被刀殺死。他們披著綿羊山羊的皮到處奔跑、受窮乏、遭患難、被虐待； 38 原是這世界不配有的人。他們飄流無定，在曠野、山嶺、石洞和地穴棲身。
39 所有這些人都藉著信得了稱許，卻還沒有得著所應許的； 40 因為 神已經為我們預備了更美的事，使他們若不跟我們在一起，就不能完全。
Hebrews 11
New Century Version
What Is Faith?
11 Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. 2 Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.
3 It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen.
4 It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered and called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven so he would not die. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. Before he was taken, the Scripture says that he was a man who truly pleased God. 6 Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him.
7 It was by faith that Noah heard God’s warnings about things he could not yet see. He obeyed God and built a large boat to save his family. By his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
8 It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9 It was by faith that he lived like a foreigner in the country God promised to give him. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. 10 Abraham was waiting for the city[a] that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God.
11 He was too old to have children, and Sarah could not have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father, because he trusted God to do what he had promised.[b] 12 This man was so old he was almost dead, but from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. Like the sand on the seashore, they could not be counted.
13 All these great people died in faith. They did not get the things that God promised his people, but they saw them coming far in the future and were glad. They said they were like visitors and strangers on earth. 14 When people say such things, they show they are looking for a country that will be their own. 15 If they had been thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back. 16 But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.
17 It was by faith that Abraham, when God tested him, offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham, but Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. 18 God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.”[c] 19 Abraham believed that God could raise the dead, and really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death.
20 It was by faith that Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. 21 It was by faith that Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each one of Joseph’s sons. Then he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22 It was by faith that Joseph, while he was dying, spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt and gave instructions about what to do with his body.
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.
24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of the king of Egypt’s daughter. 25 He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking for God’s reward. 27 It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see. 28 It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors so the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.
29 It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. But when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.
30 It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 It was by faith that Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies and was not killed with those who refused to obey God.
32 Do I need to give more examples? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Through their faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, received God’s promises, and shut the mouths of lions. 34 They stopped great fires and were saved from being killed with swords. They were weak, and yet were made strong. They were powerful in battle and defeated other armies. 35 Women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others were tortured and refused to accept their freedom so they could be raised from the dead to a better life. 36 Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were put in chains and thrown into prison. 37 They were stoned to death, they were cut in half,[d] and they were killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, abused, and treated badly. 38 The world was not good enough for them! They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth.
39 All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised. 40 God planned to give us something better so that they would be made perfect, but only together with us.
Footnotes
- 11:10 city The spiritual “city” where God’s people live with him. Also called “the heavenly Jerusalem.” (See Hebrews 12:22.)
- 11:11 It . . . promised. Some Greek copies refer to Sarah’s faith, rather than Abraham’s.
- 11:18 “The descendants . . . Isaac.” Quotation from Genesis 21:12.
- 11:37 they were cut in half Some Greek copies also include, “they were tested.”
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
