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Hebrews 11
New International Reader's Version
Hebrews 11
New International Reader's Version
Faith That Produces Action
11 Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see. 2 That is what the people of long ago were praised for.
3 We have faith. So we understand that everything was made when God commanded it. That’s why we believe that what we see was not made out of what could be seen.
4 Abel had faith. So he brought to God a better offering than Cain did. Because of his faith Abel was praised as a godly man. God said good things about his offerings. Because of his faith Abel still speaks. He speaks even though he is dead.
5 Enoch had faith. So he was taken from this life. He didn’t die. “He couldn’t be found, because God had taken him away.” (Genesis 5:24) Before God took him, Enoch was praised as one who pleased God. 6 Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him.
7 Noah had faith. So he built an ark to save his family. He built it because of his great respect for God. God had warned him about things that could not yet be seen. Because of his faith Noah showed the world that it was guilty. Because of his faith he was considered right with God.
8 Abraham had faith. So he obeyed God. God called him to go to a place he would later receive as his own. So he went. He did it even though he didn’t know where he was going. 9 Because of his faith he made his home in the land God had promised him. Abraham was like an outsider in a strange country. He lived there in tents. So did Isaac and Jacob. They received the same promise he did. 10 Abraham was looking forward to the city that has foundations. He was waiting for the city that God planned and built. 11 And Sarah had faith. So God made it possible for her to become a mother. She became a mother even though she was too old to have children. But Sarah believed that the God who made the promise was faithful. 12 Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the things God had promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a long way off. They openly said that they were outsiders and strangers on earth. 14 People who say things like that show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 What if they had been thinking of the country they had left? Then they could have returned to it. 16 Instead, they longed for a better country. They wanted a heavenly one. So God is pleased when they call him their God. In fact, he has prepared a city for them.
17 Abraham had faith. So when God tested him, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had held on tightly to the promises. But he was about to offer his one and only son. 18 God had said to him, “Your family line will continue through Isaac.” (Genesis 21:12) Even so, Abraham was going to offer him up. 19 Abraham did this, because he believed that God could even raise the dead. In a way, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 Isaac had faith. So he blessed Jacob and Esau. He told them what was ahead for them.
21 Jacob had faith. So he blessed each of Joseph’s sons. He blessed them when he was dying. Because of his faith he worshiped God. Jacob worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22 Joseph had faith. So he spoke to the people of Israel about how they would leave Egypt someday. When his death was near, he spoke about where to bury his bones.
23 Moses’ parents had faith. So they hid him for three months after he was born. They saw he was a special child. They were not afraid of the king’s command.
24 Moses had faith. So he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. That happened after he had grown up. 25 He chose to be treated badly together with the people of God. He chose not to enjoy sin’s pleasures. They only last for a short time. 26 He suffered shame because of Christ. He thought it had great value. Moses considered it better than the riches of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward. 27 Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. It wasn’t because he was afraid of the king’s anger. He didn’t let anything stop him. That’s because he saw the God who can’t be seen. 28 Because of his faith, Moses was the first to keep the Passover Feast. He commanded the people of Israel to sprinkle blood on their doorways. He did it so that the destroying angel would not touch their oldest sons.
29 The people of Israel had faith. So they passed through the Red Sea. They went through it as if it were dry land. The Egyptians tried to do it also. But they drowned.
30 Israel’s army had faith. So the walls of Jericho fell down. It happened after they had marched around the city for seven days.
31 Rahab, the prostitute, had faith. So she welcomed the spies. That’s why she wasn’t killed with those who didn’t obey God.
32 What more can I say? I don’t have time to tell about all the others. I don’t have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. I don’t have time to tell about David and Samuel and the prophets. 33 Because of their faith they took over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions. 34 They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries. 35 Women received back their dead. The dead were raised to life again. There were others who were made to suffer greatly. But they refused to be set free. They did this so that after death they would be raised to an even better life. 36 Some were made fun of and even whipped. Some were held by chains. Some were put in prison. 37 Some were killed with stones. Some were sawed in two. Some were killed by swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor. They were attacked. They were treated badly. 38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They lived in caves. They lived in holes in the ground.
39 All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised. 40 That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.
Hébreux 11
La Bible du Semeur
Hébreux 11
La Bible du Semeur
Foi et endurance
La foi des témoins de l’ancienne alliance
11 La foi est une façon de posséder[a] ce qu’on espère, c’est un moyen d’être sûr des réalités qu’on ne voit pas. 2 C’est parce qu’ils ont eu cette foi que les hommes des temps passés ont été approuvés par Dieu.
3 Par la foi, nous comprenons que l’univers a été harmonieusement organisé par la parole de Dieu, et qu’ainsi le monde visible tire son origine de l’invisible.
4 Par la foi, Abel a offert à Dieu un sacrifice meilleur que celui de Caïn. Grâce à elle, il a été reconnu comme juste par Dieu qui a témoigné lui-même qu’il approuvait ses dons, et grâce à elle Abel parle encore, bien que mort.
5 Par la foi, Hénok a été enlevé auprès de Dieu pour échapper à la mort et on ne le trouva plus, parce que Dieu l’avait enlevé. En effet, avant de nous parler de son enlèvement, l’Ecriture lui rend ce témoignage : il était agréable à Dieu[b]. 6 Or, sans la foi, il est impossible de lui être agréable. Car celui qui s’approche de Dieu doit croire qu’il existe et qu’il récompense ceux qui se tournent vers lui.
7 Par la foi, Noé a construit un bateau pour sauver sa famille : il avait pris au sérieux la révélation qu’il avait reçue au sujet d’événements qu’on ne voyait pas encore. En agissant ainsi, il a condamné le monde. Et Dieu lui a accordé d’être déclaré juste en raison de sa foi.
8 Par la foi, Abraham a obéi à l’appel de Dieu qui lui ordonnait de partir pour un pays qu’il devait recevoir plus tard en héritage. Il est parti sans savoir où il allait. 9 Par la foi, il a séjourné en étranger dans le pays qui lui avait été promis, vivant sous des tentes, de même qu’Isaac et Jacob qui sont héritiers avec lui de la même promesse. 10 Car il attendait la cité aux fondements inébranlables dont Dieu lui-même est l’architecte et le constructeur.
11 Par la foi, Sara, elle aussi, qui était stérile, a été rendue capable de devenir mère alors qu’elle en avait depuis longtemps passé l’âge. En effet, elle était convaincue que celui qui avait fait la promesse est fidèle. 12 C’est pourquoi aussi, d’un seul homme – plus encore : d’un homme déjà marqué par la mort – sont issus des descendants aussi nombreux que les étoiles du ciel et que les grains de sable qu’on ne saurait compter sur le rivage de la mer[c].
13 C’est dans la foi que tous ces gens sont morts sans avoir reçu ce qui leur avait été promis. Mais ils l’ont vu et salué de loin, et ils ont reconnu qu’ils étaient eux-mêmes étrangers et voyageurs sur la terre[d]. 14 Ceux qui parlent ainsi montrent clairement qu’ils recherchent une patrie. 15 En effet, s’ils avaient eu la nostalgie de celle qu’ils avaient quittée, ils auraient eu l’occasion d’y retourner. 16 En fait, c’est une meilleure patrie qu’ils désirent, c’est-à-dire la patrie céleste. Aussi Dieu n’a pas honte d’être appelé « leur Dieu », et il leur a préparé une cité.
17 Par la foi, Abraham a offert Isaac lorsque Dieu l’a mis à l’épreuve. Oui, il était en train d’offrir son fils unique, lui qui avait eu la promesse, 18 et à qui Dieu avait dit : C’est par Isaac que te sera suscitée une descendance[e]. 19 Dieu, estimait-il, est assez puissant pour ressusciter un mort. Et son fils lui a été rendu : c’est une préfiguration.
20 Par la foi aussi, Isaac a béni Jacob et Esaü, en vue de l’avenir. 21 Par la foi, Jacob a béni, peu avant sa mort, chacun des fils de Joseph et s’est prosterné pour adorer Dieu, en prenant appui sur l’extrémité de son bâton[f].
22 Par la foi, Joseph, à la fin de sa vie, a évoqué la sortie d’Egypte des descendants d’Israël, et a donné des instructions au sujet de ses ossements.
23 Par la foi, Moïse, après sa naissance, a été tenu caché pendant trois mois par ses parents, car en voyant combien cet enfant était beau, ils ne se sont pas laissés intimider par le décret du roi.
24 Par la foi, Moïse, devenu adulte, a refusé d’être reconnu comme le fils de la fille du pharaon[g]. 25 Il a choisi de prendre part aux souffrances du peuple de Dieu plutôt que de jouir – momentanément – d’une vie dans le péché. 26 Car, estimait-il, subir l’humiliation que Christ devait connaître constituait une richesse bien supérieure aux trésors de l’Egypte : il avait, en effet, les yeux fixés sur la récompense à venir.
27 Par la foi, il a quitté l’Egypte sans craindre la fureur du roi et il est resté ferme, en homme qui voit le Dieu invisible. 28 Par la foi, il a célébré la Pâque et a fait répandre du sang sur les linteaux des portes pour que l’ange exterminateur ne touche pas les fils aînés des Israélites.
29 Par la foi, les Israélites ont traversé la mer Rouge comme une terre sèche ; alors que les Egyptiens, qui ont essayé d’en faire autant, ont été engloutis.
30 Par la foi, les murailles de Jéricho se sont écroulées quand le peuple en eut fait le tour pendant sept jours.
31 Par la foi, Rahab la prostituée n’est pas morte avec ceux qui étaient désobéissants envers Dieu, parce qu’elle avait accueilli avec bienveillance les Israélites envoyés en éclaireurs.
32 Que dirai-je encore ? Le temps me manquerait pour parler en détail de Gédéon, de Baraq, de Samson, de Jephté, de David, de Samuel et des prophètes. 33 Grâce à la foi, ils ont remporté la victoire sur des royaumes, exercé la justice, obtenu la réalisation de promesses, fermé la gueule des lions. 34 Ils ont éteint des feux violents, ont échappé au tranchant de l’épée. Ils ont été remplis de force alors qu’ils étaient faibles. Ils se sont montrés vaillants dans les batailles, ils ont mis en fuite des armées ennemies ; 35 des femmes ont vu leurs morts ressusciter pour leur être rendus.
D’autres, en revanche, ont été torturés ; ils ont refusé d’être délivrés, afin d’obtenir ce qui est meilleur : la résurrection. 36 D’autres encore ont enduré les moqueries, le fouet, ainsi que les chaînes et la prison. 37 Certains ont été lapidés, d’autres ont été torturés[h], sciés en deux ou mis à mort par l’épée. D’autres ont mené une vie errante, vêtus de peaux de moutons ou de chèvres, dénués de tout, persécutés et maltraités, 38 eux dont le monde n’était pas digne. Ils ont erré dans les déserts et sur les montagnes, vivant dans les cavernes et les antres de la terre.
39 Dieu a approuvé tous ces gens à cause de leur foi, et pourtant, aucun d’eux n’a reçu ce qu’il leur avait promis. 40 C’est que Dieu avait prévu quelque chose de meilleur pour nous : ils ne devaient donc pas parvenir sans nous à la perfection.
Footnotes
- 11.1 Autre traduction : l’assurance de posséder.
- 11.5 Gn 5.24 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
- 11.12 Gn 15.15.
- 11.13 Gn 23.4.
- 11.18 Gn 21.12.
- 11.21 Gn 47.31 cité selon l’ancienne version grecque.
- 11.24 Voir Ex 2.10.
- 11.37 Les mots d’autres ont été torturés sont absents dans plusieurs manuscrits.
Hebrews 11
King James Version
Hebrews 11
King James Version
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 11
New International Version
Hebrews 11
New International Version
Faith in Action
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(N) obeyed and went,(O) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land(P) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(Q) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(R) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(S) with foundations,(T) whose architect and builder is God.(U) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(V) was enabled to bear children(W) because she[b] considered him faithful(X) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(Y) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(Z)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(AA) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(AB) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(AC) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(AD) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(AE) Therefore God is not ashamed(AF) to be called their God,(AG) for he has prepared a city(AH) for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(AI) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c](AJ) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(AK) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(AL)
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(AM) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(AN)
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(AO) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(AP)
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(AQ) 25 He chose to be mistreated(AR) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(AS) for the sake of Christ(AT) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(AU) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(AV) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(AW) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(AX)
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(AY)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(AZ)
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d](BA)
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(BB) Barak,(BC) Samson(BD) and Jephthah,(BE) about David(BF) and Samuel(BG) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(BH) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(BI) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(BJ) and escaped the edge of the sword;(BK) whose weakness was turned to strength;(BL) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(BM) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(BN) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(BO) and even chains and imprisonment.(BP) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e](BQ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(BR) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(BS) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(BT) and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended(BU) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(BV) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(BW) would they be made perfect.(BX)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
- Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
- Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
- Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
New International Reader's Version (NIRV) 
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