| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. | 1Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. |
| 2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. | 2For our ancestors won God's approval by it. |
| 3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. | 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by God's command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible. |
| 4By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. | 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. |
| 5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. | 5By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God. |
| 6But 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 diligently seek Him. | 6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. |
| 7By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. | 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. |
| 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. | 8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. |
| 9By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; | 9By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. |
| 10for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. | 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. |
| 11By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. | 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. |
| 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. | 12Therefore from one man--in fact, from one as good as dead--came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore. |
| 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. | 13These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. |
| 14For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. | 14Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. |
| 15And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. | 15If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. |
| 16But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. | 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. |
| 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, | 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, |
| 18of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” | 18the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced through Isaac. |
| 19concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense. | 19He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, and as an illustration, he received him back. |
| 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. | 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. |
| 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. | 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. |
| 22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones. | 22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. |
| 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command. | 23By faith, after Moses was born, he 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. |
| 24By faith Moses, when he became of age, 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 |
| 25choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, | 25and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. |
| 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. | 26For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward. |
| 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. | 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. |
| 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. | 28By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. |
| 29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned. | 29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. |
| 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days. | 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being encircled by the Israelites for seven days. |
| 31By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. | 31By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn't perish with those who disobeyed. |
| 32And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: | 32And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, |
| 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, | 33who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, |
| 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. | 34quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. |
| 35Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. | 35Women received their dead--they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, |
| 36Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. | 36and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. |
| 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— | 37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. |
| 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. | 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. |
| 39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, | 39All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, |
| 40God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. | 40since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us. |
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