Hebrews 11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
Now our trust in God is the guarantee of what we hope for, the evidence of what we can't see.
2 For by this, the elders obtained approval.
People who lived long ago trusted God and this is what gained them God's approval.
3 By faith, we understand that the ages (aiōn g165) have been aligned by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.
Through our trust in God we understand that the whole universe was created by God's command, that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen. (aiōn g165)
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
By trusting him Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and as a result God identified him as someone who lived right. God showed this by accepting his offering. Even though Abel has been dead for a long time, he still speaks to us through what he did.
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he would not see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.
By trusting God Enoch was taken to heaven so he didn't experience death. He couldn't be found on earth because God took him to heaven. Before this happened he was known as someone God was pleased with.
6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.
You can't expect God to be pleased with you if you don't trust him! Anyone who comes to God must believe that God exists, and that he rewards those who are searching for him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
Noah trusted God, and was warned by him about things that had never happened before. Because Noah paid serious attention to what God said, he constructed an ark to save his family. By trusting God, Noah showed that the world was wrong, and received the reward of being set right by God.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
Through trusting God Abraham obeyed when God called him to go to the land God was going to give him. He left, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
Trusting in God he lived in the promised land—but as a foreigner, living in tents, together with Isaac and Jacob who shared with him in inheriting the same promise.
10 For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
For Abraham was looking forward to a city built on foundations that last, with God as its builder and maker.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.
By her trust in God even Sarah herself was given the ability to conceive a child though she was too old, because she trusted God who had made the promise.
12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
That is why the descendants of Abraham, (who was as good as dead!), became as numerous as the stars of heaven, as countless as the sand of the sea-shore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
They all died still trusting in God. Though they didn't receive the things God promised, they were still looking for them as it were from a distance and welcomed them, acknowledging that on this earth they were foreigners, people just passing through.
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
People who say such things make it clear that they're looking for a country of their own.
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
For if they cared about the country they'd left behind, they could have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
But they're looking for a better country instead, a heavenly country. That is why God isn't disappointed with them, and is happy to be called their God, for he has built a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,
Abraham trusted God when he was tested and offered Isaac to God. Abraham, who had accepted God's promises, was still ready to offer to God his only son,
18 to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,”
even though he'd been told, “It's through Isaac that your descendants will be counted.”
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
Abraham had thought it through and decided that God could bring Isaac back to life from the dead. In a sense that's what did happen—Abraham received Isaac back from the dead.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
Trusting in God, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to what the future would bring.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
Trusting in God, Jacob as he was dying blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped God, leaning on his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.
Trusting in God, Joseph too, when his own death approached, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites, and gave instructions about what to do with his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
Trusting in God, Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born. They recognized he was a special child. They weren't afraid to go against what the king had commanded.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
Trusting in God, Moses, when he grew up, refused to be known as the adopted son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
Instead he chose to share in the sufferings of God's people rather than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin.
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
He counted the rejection he experienced from following Christ to be of far greater value than the wealth of Egypt—because he was focused on the reward to come.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Trusting in God, he left Egypt and wasn't scared of Pharaoh's anger—he kept going with his eyes fixed on the invisible God.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
Trusting in God he observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroying angel would not touch the Israelites.
29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
Trusting in God the Israelites crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do the same they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
Trusting in God, the Israelites marched around the walls of Jericho for seven days, and the walls fell down.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
Trusting in God, Rahab the prostitute didn't die with those who rejected God, because she had welcomed the Israelite spies in peace.
32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—
What other examples should I give? I don't have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; about David, Samuel, and the prophets.
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Because of their trust in God they conquered kingdoms, did what was good and right, received God's promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee.
put out blazing fires, escaped being killed by the sword, were weak but made strong, did mighty deeds in war, and routed enemy armies.
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
Women were given their dead family members back through resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to compromise and be pardoned, because they wanted to be part of a better resurrection.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
Yet others suffered insults and whippings; they were put in chains and imprisoned.
37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated—
Some were stoned, cut in pieces, tempted, killed by the sword. Some dressed in sheepskins and goatskins: destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
The world was not worthy to have such people who wandered in the deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These all, having been commended for their faith, did not receive the promise,
All of these people, even though they had God's approval, didn't receive what God had promised.
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
God has given us something even better, so that they can't be complete without us.
