Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:1

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

Faith is assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:2-3

²For by this, the elders obtained approval. ³By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

By faith the elders obtained approval; by faith we understand that the universe was framed by God’s word, so what is seen was not made out of visible things.

Hebrews 11:4

⁴By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, obtained witness that he was righteous, and through faith still speaks though dead.

Hebrews 11:5

⁵By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

By faith Enoch was taken so he would not see death; before he was taken he had witness that he was well pleasing to God.

Hebrews 11:6

⁶Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

Without faith it is impossible to please God; anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Hebrews 11:7

⁷By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark that saved his household, condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness that is according to faith.

Hebrews 11:8-10

⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. ⁹By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

By faith Abraham obeyed when called, going out not knowing where; he lived as a sojourner looking for the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:11-12

¹¹By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. ¹²Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

By faith Sarah received power to conceive past age because she counted God faithful; therefore from one as good as dead came descendants as stars and sand.

Hebrews 11:13-16

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. ¹⁵If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. ¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

These all died in faith, seeing and greeting the promises from afar, confessing themselves strangers on earth, seeking a homeland; God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He prepared a city.

Hebrews 11:17-19

¹⁷By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, ¹⁸to whom it was said, “Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac,” ¹⁹concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

By faith Abraham, when tested, offered up Isaac—his only begotten of promise—reasoning that God could raise the dead, from which he also received him back in a figure.

Hebrews 11:20

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

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Hebrews 11:21

²¹By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith Jacob, while dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped, leaning on his staff.

Hebrews 11:22

²²By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

By faith Joseph, near his end, mentioned Israel’s exodus and gave orders concerning his bones.

Hebrews 11:23

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

By faith Moses’ parents hid him three months, seeing the child was beautiful, and they did not fear the king’s edict.

Hebrews 11:24-28

²⁴By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, ²⁶considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. ²⁷By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

By faith Moses refused Pharaoh’s daughter’s identity, choosing mistreatment with God’s people over sin’s passing pleasure, considering Christ’s reproach greater wealth, left Egypt, and kept the Passover by faith.

Hebrews 11:29

²⁹By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

By faith Israel passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, while the Egyptians were drowned when they attempted it.

Hebrews 11:30

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

By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they were encircled for seven days.

Hebrews 11:31

³¹By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with the disobedient, having welcomed the spies in peace.

Hebrews 11:32-38

³²What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets— ³³who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. ³⁵Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. ³⁶Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. ³⁷They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— ³⁸of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

Time would fail to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets—who conquered, suffered, were tortured, and wandered—of whom the world was not worthy.

Hebrews 11:39-40

³⁹These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, ⁴⁰God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

All these, commended through faith, did not receive the promise, God providing something better concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

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