Beginning
11 Now faith is the confidence of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it our elders were given a good report.
3 Through faith, we understand that the world was ordained by the Word of God, so that the things which we see are not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith, Abel offered a greater sacrifice to God than Cain - by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts - also by which he, being dead, still speaks.
5 By faith, Enoch was translated, so that he would not see death. Nor was he found. For God had taken him away. For before he was transformed, it was reported of him that he had pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him. He who comes to God must believe that God is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7 By faith, Noah being warned by God of the things which were as yet not seen, moved with reverence, prepared the Ark to the saving of his household (through which He condemned the world), and was made heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out into a place which he would receive for inheritance afterward. And he went out, not knowing where he went.
9 By faith, he dwelt in the Land of Promise - as in a strange country - living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he awaited a city having a foundation whose Builder and Maker is God.
11 Through faith, Sarah also received strength to conceive seed and delivered a child when she was past age, because she judged Him Who had promised faithful.
12 And therefore, even from one who was as good as dead, there sprang so many; as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand of the seashore, which is innumerable.
13 All these died in faith and did not receive the promises. But they saw them at a distance and believed, and received thankfully, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the Earth.
14 For those who say such things, plainly declare that they seek a country.
15 And if they had been mindful of from where they had come, they had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better (that is, a heavenly). Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham - when he was tried - offered up Isaac. And he who had received the promises offered his only begotten son
18 (to whom it was said, “In Isaac shall your seed be called.”)
19 For he considered that God was able to raise him up - even from the dead - from where He received him also, figuratively.
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 worshipping at the end of his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, when he died, mentioned the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment about his bones.
23 By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child. Nor did they fear the king’s commandment.
24 By faith, Moses, when he had come to age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter
25 and chose to suffer adversity with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
26 He esteemed the rebuke of Christ to be greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. For he looked toward the reward.
27 By faith, he left Egypt and did not fear the fierceness of the king. For he endured, as he who saw Him Who is invisible.
28 Through faith, he ordained the Passover and the effusion of blood, so that He who destroyed the first born would not touch them.
29 By faith, they passed through the Red Sea, as by dry land (in which the Egyptians, when they had tried to do so, were swallowed up).
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after they were surrounded for seven days.
31 By faith, the prostitute Rahab, when she had received the spies peaceably, did not perish with those who disobeyed.
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, also of David, and Samuel, and of the Prophets;
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, made the weak strong, became valiant in battle, turned the armies of the aliens to flight.
35 The women received their dead raised to life again. Also, others were tortured and refused deliverance so that they might receive a better resurrection.
36 And others have been tried by mockings and scourgings, and moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were tempted. They were killed with the sword. They wandered up and down in sheep’s skins, and in goats’ skins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented.
38 Those of whom the world was not worthy wandered in wildernesses and mountains, and dens, and caves of the Earth.
39 And through faith, these all obtained a good report. And yet, they did not receive the promise;
40 God providing a better thing for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.
12 Therefore, seeing that we are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also cast away everything that presses down and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 looking to Jesus - the Author and Finisher of our faith - Who, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Therefore, consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 In striving against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed.
5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked by Him.
6 “For whom the Lord loves, he chastens. And He scourges every son that He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God offered Himself to you as to sons. For what son is it whom the Father does not chasten?
8 Therefore, if you are without correction - of which all are partakers - then you are bastards, and not sons.
9 Moreover, we have had the fathers of our bodies who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Should we not be in all the more subjection to the Father of Spirits, in order that we might live?
10 For indeed they chastened us for a few days, as it pleased them. But He chastened us for our profit, so that we might be partakers of His holiness.
11 Now, no chastising seems joyous at the time, but grievous. Yet afterward, it brings the quiet fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
12 Therefore, lift up your hands which hang down, and your weak knees,
13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that which is halting is not turned out of the way. But rather, let it be healed.
14 Pursue peace and holiness with all, without which no one shall see the Lord.
15 Watch carefully, so no one falls away from the grace of God. Let no root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, lest many be defiled by it.
16 Let there be no fornicator or profane person (such as Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal).
17 For you also know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected. For he found no place for repentance, though he sought that blessing with tears.
18 For you have not come to the mountain that can be touched - nor to burning fire, nor to blackness and darkness and tempest,
19 nor to the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words - from which those who heard it excused themselves so that the word would not be spoken to them anymore.
20 For they were not able to abide that which was commanded: “Yea, if a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with an arrow”.
21 And so terrible was the sight which appeared, that Moses said, “I fear and quake”.
22 But you have come to the Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God (the celestial Jerusalem), and to the company of innumerable angels,
23 and to the assembly and congregation of the first born (which are written in Heaven), and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the just and perfected,
24 and to Jesus the Mediator of the New Testament, and to the blood of sprinkling which speaks better things than that of Abel.
25 See that you do not despise Him Who speaks. For if those did not escape who refused Him who spoke on Earth, much more so shall we not escape if we turn away from Him Who speaks from Heaven.
26 His voice shook the Earth then. And now He has declared, saying, “Yet once more will I shake, not the Earth only, but also Heaven.”
27 And this, “Yet once more” signifies the removing of those things which are shaken (as in things which are made) so that the things which are not shaken may remain.
28 Therefore, seeing we receive a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may pleasingly serve God with reverence and godly fear.
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
13 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Do not forget to entertain strangers. For thereby some have unknowingly received angels into their houses.
3 Remember the prisoners, as though you were bound with them; and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.
4 Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled. But God will judge whoremongers and adulterers.
5 Let your conversation be without covetousness. And be content with those things that you have. For He has said,
6 “I will neither fail you nor forsake you.”
7 So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me.”
8 Remember your leaders who have declared to you the Word of God. Follow their faith, considering what has been the outcome of their conduct. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
9 Do not be carried about with strange and diverse doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart is established with grace, and not with food which has not profited those who walk in them.
10 We have an altar from which those who serve in the Tabernacle have no authority to eat.
11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the High Priest for sin, are burnt outside the camp.
12 Therefore, even Jesus - so that He might sanctify the people with His own blood - suffered outside the gate.
13 Therefore, let us go forth to Him out of the camp, bearing His reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city. But we seek one to come.
15 Therefore, by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God (that is, the fruit of the lips which confess His Name).
16 Do not forget to do good and to share. For God is pleased with such sacrifices.
17 Obey your leaders and submit. For they watch over your souls, as those who must give an account. So that they may do so with joy and not with grief. For that is unprofitable for you.
18 Pray for us. For we are confident that we have a good conscience in all things, desiring to live honestly.
19 And I desire that you do so somewhat more earnestly, that I may be restored to you more quickly.
20 May the God of Peace, Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus - the Great Shepherd of the sheep - through the blood of the everlasting Covenant,
21 make you perfect in all good works; to do His will, working in you that which is pleasant in His sight through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise forever and ever. Amen.
22 I implore you also, brothers, to bear the words of exhortation. For I have written to you in few words.
23 Know that our brother, Timothy, has been freed; with whom, if he comes shortly, I will see you.
24 Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those of Italy greet you.
25 Grace be with you all. Amen.
(Written to the Hebrews from Italy. And sent by Timothy.)
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