Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

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

2This is why the ancients were commended.

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was 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 God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

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 up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended 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.

6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly 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, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became 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 called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and 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.

9By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him 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 with 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 Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

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 from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on 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.

13All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles 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 show that they are seeking a country of their own.

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

15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had 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.

16Instead, they were longing for a better country, 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 on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer 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;

18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

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

19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

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 the future.

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

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned 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, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about 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’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of 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 was grown, 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 suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

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

26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

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

27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw 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 kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

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 the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, 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, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

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

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

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 shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of 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 through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

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

34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from 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 back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their 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;

36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

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

37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, 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

38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid 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.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

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

40God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

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

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