International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.

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

2By faith our ancestors won approval.

2For by it the people of old received their commendation.

3By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are invisible.

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

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even though he is dead.

4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.

5By faith Enoch was taken away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who pleased God.

5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.

6Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes by faith.

7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited the same promise,

9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.

10because he was waiting for the city with permanent foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

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

11By faith Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful.

11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

12Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on earth.

13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14For people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.

14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

15If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back.

15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because 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 for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac—he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice,

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

18about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you."

18of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

19Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.

19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshipped while leaning on the top of his staff."

21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelis and gave them instructions about burying his bones.

22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

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

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

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

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

25because he preferred being mistreated with God's people to enjoying the pleasures of sin for a short time.

25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt, without being afraid of the king's anger, and he persevered because he saw the one who is invisible.

27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

28By faith he established the Passover and the sprinkling of blood to keep the destroyer of the firstborn from touching the people.

28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned.

29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.

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

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

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies with a greeting of peace.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.

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

33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies.

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

35Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

36Still others endured taunts and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment.

36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated.

37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

38The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground.

38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised,

39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40since God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be perfected without us.

40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.