New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

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

2Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

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.

4It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of 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.

5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person 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.

6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely 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.

7It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received 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.

8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing 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.

9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited 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;

10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

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

11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

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

12And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

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.

13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on 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.

14Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

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

15If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

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

16But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why 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.

17It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac,

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

18even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”

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

19Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

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

20It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

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

21It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on 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.

22It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

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

23It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

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.

24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew 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,

25He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

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

26He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

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

27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

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

28It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

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

29It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all 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.

30It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

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

31It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

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

32How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all 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,

33By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,

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

34quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole 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 loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

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

36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

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

37Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed 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

38They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and 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 people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

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

40For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

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

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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