Hebrews 11
By Faith — and They Did Not Receive What Was Promised
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The Assurance of Things Hoped For
11:1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of realities not seen.
11:2For by it the elders received testimony.
11:3By faith we understand that the ages were formed by God’s word, so that what is seen did not come into being from visible things.
By Faith Abel Offered God a Better Sacrifice
11:4By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, through which he received testimony that he was righteous, God testifying concerning his gifts; and through it, though he died, he still speaks.
11:5By faith Enoch was taken away so as not to see death, and he was not found, because God took him away. For before his taking away he had received testimony that he had pleased God.
11:6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one approaching God must believe that He is and that He becomes a rewarder of those who seek Him.
11:7By faith Noah, instructed concerning things not yet seen, acted with reverent fear and prepared an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness according to faith.
The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
11:8By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out without knowing where he was going.
11:9By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of the promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
11:10For he was awaiting the city that has foundations, whose craftsman and maker is God.
11:11By faith he received power for begetting offspring even with Sarah herself, and beyond the proper age, since he considered the One who promised faithful.
11:12Therefore from one man, and that one as good as dead, there were born as many as the stars of heaven in multitude and as the innumerable sand along the seashore.
11:13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen and greeted them from afar and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners upon the earth.
11:14For those who say such things make clear that they are seeking a homeland.
11:15And if their thoughts are on that land from which they went out, they would have opportunity to return.
11:16But now they desire a better one, 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.
Abraham Tested and the Patriarchs’ Blessings
11:17By faith Abraham, when tested, offered Isaac; and the one who had welcomed the promises was offering his only son,
11:18to whom it had been said, “In Isaac offspring will be named for you.”
11:19He reckoned that God is able even to raise from the dead; from there he also received him back in a figure.
11:20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau also concerning things to come.
11:21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped over the top of his staff.
11:22By faith Joseph, when coming to his end, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.
The Faith of Moses
11:23By faith Moses, when born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful and did not fear the king’s decree.
11:24By faith Moses, when grown, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
11:25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin.
11:26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking toward the reward.
11:27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger, for he endured as though seeing the invisible One.
11:28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
By Faith They Crossed the Sea
11:29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as through dry land; when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up.
11:30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days.
11:31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed, having received the spies in peace.
A World Not Worthy of Them
11:32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me as I recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel and the prophets,
11:33who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
11:34extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edges of the sword, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in battle, and turned back the armies of foreigners.
11:35Women received their dead through resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
11:36And others experienced mockings and scourgings, and also bonds and imprisonment.
11:37They were stoned, sawn apart, and died by slaughter with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and mistreated—
11:38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth.
11:39And all, having received testimony through their faith, did not receive the promise,
11:40since God had provided something better concerning us, so that they should not be perfected apart from us.
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.