International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now faith is the assurance that what we hope for will come about and the certainty that what we cannot see exists.

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

2By faith our ancestors won approval.

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

3By faith we understand that time was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are 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 to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and by faith he was declared to be righteous, since God himself accepted his offerings. And by faith he continues to speak, even 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 away without experiencing death. He could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he won approval as one who 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 God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for 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 warned about things not yet seen, reverently prepared an ark to save his family, and by faith he condemned the world and inherited 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, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know 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 made his home in the promised land like a stranger, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who also inherited 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;

10because he was waiting for the city with permanent 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 Sarah, even though she was old and barren, received the strength to conceive, because she was convinced that the one who had made the promise was faithful.

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

12Abraham was as good as dead, yet from this one man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the 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.

13All these people died having faith. They did not receive the things that were promised, yet they saw them in the distant future and welcomed them, acknowledging that they were strangers and foreigners on 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 people who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own.

14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

15If they had been thinking about what they had left behind, they would have had an opportunity to go back.

15And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16Instead, they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, because 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 Isaac—he who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son in sacrifice,

17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

18about whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you."

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

19Abraham was certain that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did get Isaac back in this way.

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 Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

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

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons "and worshipped while leaning on the top of 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, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelis and gave them instructions about burying his bones.

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 Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child and were not afraid of the king's order.

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 Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

25because he preferred being mistreated with God's people to enjoying the pleasures of sin for a short time.

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

26He thought that being insulted for the sake of the Messiah was of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his 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 being afraid of the king's anger, and he persevered because he saw 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 established the Passover and the sprinkling of blood to keep the destroyer of the firstborn from touching the people.

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 went through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were drowned.

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 down after they had been encircled for seven days.

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

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies with a greeting of 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 should I say? For time would fail me to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, 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, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,

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

34put out raging fires, escaped death by the sword, found strength in weakness, became powerful in battle, and routed foreign armies.

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.

35Women received their dead raised back to life. Other people were brutally tortured, but refused to be ransomed, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

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

36Still others endured taunts and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment.

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

37They were stoned to death, sawed in half, and killed with swords. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins. They were needy, oppressed, and mistreated.

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

38The world wasn't worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and from caves to holes in the ground.

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

39All these people won approval for their faith but they did not receive what was promised,

39And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

40since God had planned something better for us, so that they would not be perfected without us.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org