Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

2For by it our ancestors won God's approval.

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

3By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.

5By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.

5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

7By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

7By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise.

9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;

10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.

11By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12Therefore, from one man--in fact, from one as good as dead--came offspring as numerous as the stars of the sky and as innumerable as the grains of sand along the seashore.

12Therefore there was born even of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

13These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth.

13All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return.

15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16But they now desire a better place--a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and yet he was offering his one and only son,

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

18the one to whom it had been said, Your offspring will be called through Isaac.

18it was he to whom it was said, "IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED."

19He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead; therefore, he received him back, figuratively speaking.

19He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.

22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn't fear the king's edict.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

25and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.

25choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

26For he considered reproach for the sake of Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking ahead to the reward.

26considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king's anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.

27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

28By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites.

28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned.

29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around by the Israelites for seven days.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn't perish with those who disobeyed.

31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

33who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

35Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

35Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

36Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.

36and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.

37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

38(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

39All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

39And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

40because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org