New King James Version

English Standard Version

1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

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

2For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

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

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 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 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 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 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 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.

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.

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, 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, 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 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 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 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 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.

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

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, 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.

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, 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 those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.

14For people who speak thus 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 had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had 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 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 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, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,

18of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,”

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

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 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 concerning things to come.

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

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 dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head 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, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions 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 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 became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

24By faith Moses, when he was 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,

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

26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to 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, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing 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 kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, 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 were encircled for seven days.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled 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 did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

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

33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped 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 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 to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain 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 had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains 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 sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

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

39And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise,

39And all these, though commended through their faith, 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, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

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.