NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.

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

2For by it the people of old received God's commendation.

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God's command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

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 greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, 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, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having 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 him, for the one who approaches God 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, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through 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 obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding 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 lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs 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 firm 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 though Sarah herself was barren and he was too old, he received the ability to procreate, because he regarded the one who had given the promise to be trustworthy.

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

12So in fact children were fathered by one man--and this one as good as dead--like the number of stars in the sky and like the innumerable grains of 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.

13These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners 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.

14For those who speak in such a way 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.

15In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that 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.

16But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, 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 had received the promises, yet he was ready to offer up his 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;

18God had told him, "Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name,"

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

19and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there.

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 also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

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

21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped 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.

22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial.

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, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months, because they saw the child was beautiful and they were not afraid 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, when he grew up, Moses 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 be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure.

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

26He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on 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 without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see 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.

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

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 if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up.

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 marched around them for seven days.

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

31By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace.

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? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and 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,

33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

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

34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, 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.

35and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life.

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

36And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

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

37They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

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

38(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth.

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

39And these all were 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,

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

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

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