| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. | 1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. |
| 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. | 2For by it the people of old received God's commendation. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. | 10For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God. |
| 11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. | 14For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. |
| 15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. | 15In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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, | 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. |
| 18of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” | 18God had told him, "Through Isaac descendants will carry on your name," |
| 19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. | 19and he reasoned that God could even raise him from the dead, and in a sense he received him back from there. |
| 20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. | 20By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. |
| 21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. | 21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped as he leaned on his staff. |
| 22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. | 22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions about his burial. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, | 24By faith, when he grew up, Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, |
| 25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. | 25choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to enjoy sin's fleeting pleasure. |
| 26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. | 26He regarded abuse suffered for Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for his eyes were fixed on the reward. |
| 27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. | 27By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he could see the one who is invisible. |
| 28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. | 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. |
| 29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. | 29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if on dry ground, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were swallowed up. |
| 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. | 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people marched around them for seven days. |
| 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. | 31By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace. |
| 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— | 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. |
| 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, | 33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, |
| 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. | 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, |
| 35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. | 35and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. |
| 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. | 36And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. |
| 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— | 37They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated |
| 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. | 38(the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. |
| 39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, | 39And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. |
| 40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. | 40For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us. |
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