Hebrews 11
11
Faith
1Faith means being sure of the things we hope for. And faith means knowing that something is real even if we do not see it. 2People who lived in the past became famous because of faith.
3It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God’s command. This means that what we see was made by something that cannot be seen.
4It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God said he was pleased with the gifts Abel offered. So God called Abel a good man because of his faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
5It was by faith that Enoch was taken to heaven. He never died. 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. 6Without 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.
7It was by faith Noah heard God’s warnings about things that 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.
8It was by faith Abraham obeyed God’s call to go to another place that God promised to give him. He left his own country, not knowing where he was to go. 9It was by faith that he lived in the country God promised to give him. He lived there like a visitor who did not belong. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had received that same promise from God. 10Abraham was waiting for the city# The spiritual “city” where God’s people live with him. Also called “the heavenly Jerusalem.” (See Hebrews 12:22.) that has real foundations—the city planned and built by God.
11He was too old to have children, and Sarah was not able to have children. It was by faith that Abraham was made able to become a father. Abraham trusted God to do what he had promised.# Some Greek copies refer to Sarah’s faith, rather than Abraham’s. 12This man was so old that he was almost dead. But from him came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. They are as many as the grains of sand on the seashore that cannot be counted.
13All these great men 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 that they were like visitors and strangers on earth. 14When people say such things, then they show that they are looking for a country that will be their own country. 15If they had been thinking about that country they had left, they could have gone back. 16But those men were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them.
17It was by faith that Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. God made the promises to Abraham. But God tested him. And Abraham was ready to offer his own son as a sacrifice. 18God had said, “The descendants I promised you will be from Isaac.”# Quotation from Genesis 21:12. 19Abraham believed that God could raise the dead. And really, it was as if Abraham got Isaac back from death.
20It was by faith that Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. 21It was by faith that Jacob blessed each one of Joseph’s sons. He did this while he was dying. Then he worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22It was by faith that Joseph spoke about the Israelites leaving Egypt while he was dying. He told them what to do with his body.
23It 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.
24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of the king of Egypt’s daughter. 25He chose to suffer with God’s people instead of enjoying sin for a short time. 26He thought that it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was looking only for God’s reward. 27It was by faith that Moses left Egypt. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses continued strong as if he could see the God that no one can see. 28It was by faith that Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doors. It was spread so that the one who brings death would not kill the firstborn sons of Israel.
29It was by faith that the people crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. The Egyptians also tried to do it, but they were drowned.
30It was by faith that the walls of Jericho fell. They fell after the people had marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days.
31It was by faith that Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the spies and was not killed with those who refused to obey God.
32Do I need to give more examples? I do not have time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33Through their faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right and received what God promised. They shut the mouths of lions, 34stopped 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. 35Women received their dead relatives raised back to life. Others were tortured and refused to accept their freedom. They did this so that they could be raised from death to a better life. 36Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were tied and put into prison. 37They were killed with stones and they were cut in half.# Some Greek copies also include, “and they were tested.” They were killed with swords. Some wore the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor, abused, and treated badly. 38The world was not good enough for them! They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth.
39All these people are known for their faith. But none of them received what God had promised. 40God planned to give us something better. Then they would be made perfect, but only together with us.
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Copyright © 2015 by Tommy Nelson™, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Hebrews 11
11
1Now faith is the substantiating of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For in the power of this the elders have obtained testimony. 3By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who seek him out. 7By faith, Noah, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is the artificer and constructor. 11By faith also Sarah herself received strength for the conception of seed, and that beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised. 12Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which is by the sea shore. 13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. 14For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek their country. 15And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned; 16but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city. 17By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19counting that God was able to raise him even from among the dead, whence also he received him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph when dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king. 24By faith Moses, when he had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have the temporary pleasure of sin; 26esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.
32And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33who by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made the armies of strangers give way. 35Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, that they might get a better resurrection; 36and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated, 38(of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caverns of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise, 40God having foreseen some better thing for us, that they should not be made perfect without us.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.