New American Standard Bible 1995

English Standard Version

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

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

2For by it the men of old gained approval.

2For by it the people of old received their commendation.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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;

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.

10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

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

11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

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

15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, 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 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 for them a city.

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

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,

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

18of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.”

19He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

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

20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.

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

21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

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.

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.

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

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

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

25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

26considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.

28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

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.

29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, 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 harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

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,

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—

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

33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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.

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.

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

35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

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

36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

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

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—

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

38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

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

39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

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

40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.