11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

11:2 For by it the men of old received divine approval.
11:2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

11:3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.
11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
11:4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.

11:5 By 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 attested as having pleased God.
11:5 By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God."

11:6 And 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.
11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

11:7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.
11:7 By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.

11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
11:9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

11:10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11:10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11:11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
11:11 By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old--and Sarah herself was barren--because he considered him faithful who had promised.

11:12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
11:12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

11:13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
11:13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,

11:14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
11:14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

11:15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.
11:15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.

11:16 But 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.
11:16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,
11:17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,

11:18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named."
11:18 of whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you."

11:19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
11:19 He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead--and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.

11:20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
11:20 By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau.

11:21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
11:21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, "bowing in worship over the top of his staff."

11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his burial.
11:22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.

11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
11:23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.

11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
11:24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,

11:25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
11:25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

11:26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.
11:26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.

11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
11:27 By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible.

11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.
11:28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

11:29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
11:29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.

11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.

11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.
11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

11:32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets --
11:32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets--

11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
11:34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life.
11:35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.

11:36 Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment.
11:36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated --
11:37 They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--

11:38 of whom the world was not worthy -- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
11:38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

11:39 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised,
11:39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,

11:40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
11:40 since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.