King James Bible

New Living Translation

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

1Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

2Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

3By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

4It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

5It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

6And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

7It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

9And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

10Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

11It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

12And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

13All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

14Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own.

15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

15If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

16But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

17It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac,

18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

18even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”

19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

19Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

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

20It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

21It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

22It was by faith that Joseph, when he was about to die, said confidently that the people of Israel would leave Egypt. He even commanded them to take his bones with them when they left.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

23It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

24It was by faith that Moses, when he grew 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 pleasures of sin for a season;

25He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

26He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.

27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.

28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

28It was by faith that Moses commanded the people of Israel to keep the Passover and to sprinkle blood on the doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons.

29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

29It was by faith that the people of Israel went right through the Red Sea as though they were on dry ground. But when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were all drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

30It was by faith that the people of Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, and the walls came crashing down.

31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

31It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

32How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets.

33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

33By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions,

34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

34quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

35Women received their loved ones back again from death. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

36Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons.

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

37Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

38They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

39All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

40For God had something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.