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11 Now faith is [the] substantiating of things hoped for, [the] conviction of things not seen.

For in [the power of] this the elders have obtained testimony.

By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by [the] word of God, so that that which is seen should not take its origin from things which appear.

By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained testimony of being righteous, God bearing testimony to his gifts, and by it, having died, he yet speaks.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before [his] translation he has the testimony that he had pleased God.

But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them who seek him out.

By faith, Noah, oracularly warned concerning things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which [is] according to faith.

By faith Abraham, being called, obeyed to go out into the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he sojourned as a stranger in the land of promise as a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with [him] of the same promise;

10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, of which God is [the] artificer and constructor.

11 By faith also Sarah herself received strength for [the] conception of seed, and [that] beyond a seasonable age; since she counted him faithful who promised.

12 Wherefore also there have been born of one, and that of one become dead, even as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand which [is] by the sea shore.

13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar off and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.

14 For they who say such things shew clearly that they seek [their] country.

15 And if they had called to mind that from whence they went out, they had had opportunity to have returned;

16 but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, [when] tried, offered up Isaac, and he who had received to himself the promises offered up his only begotten [son],

18 as to whom it had been said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 counting that God [was] able to raise [him] even from among [the] dead, whence also he received him in a figure.

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

21 By faith Jacob [when] dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph [when] dying called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel, and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, being born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the injunction of the king.

24 By faith Moses, when he had become great, refused to be called son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 choosing rather to suffer affliction along with the people of God than to have [the] temporary pleasure of sin;

26 esteeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect to the recompense.

27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 By faith he celebrated the passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as through dry land; of which the Egyptians having made trial were swallowed up.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with the unbelieving, having received the spies in peace.

32 And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David and Samuel, and of the prophets:

33 who by faith overcame kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions' mouths,

34 quenched [the] power of fire, escaped [the] edge of the sword, became strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, made [the] armies of strangers give way.

35 Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted deliverance, that they might get a better resurrection;

36 and others underwent trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, and of bonds and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, were sawn asunder, were tempted, died by the death of the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, evil treated,

38 (of whom the world was not worthy,) wandering in deserts and mountains, and [in] dens and caverns of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise,

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

12 Let *us* also therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight, and sin which so easily entangles us, run with endurance the race that lies before us,

looking stedfastly on Jesus the leader and completer of faith: who, in view of the joy lying before him, endured [the] cross, having despised [the] shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider well him who endured so great contradiction from sinners against himself, that ye be not weary, fainting in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, wrestling against sin.

And ye have quite forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: My son, despise not [the] chastening of [the] Lord, nor faint [when] reproved by him;

for whom [the] Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.

Ye endure for chastening, God conducts himself towards you as towards sons; for who is the son that the father chastens not?

But if ye are without chastening, of which all have been made partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Moreover we have had the fathers of our flesh as chasteners, and we reverenced [them]; shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of spirits, and live?

10 For they indeed chastened for a few days, as seemed good to them; but he for profit, in order to the partaking of his holiness.

11 But no chastening at the time seems to be [matter] of joy, but of grief; but afterwards yields [the] peaceful fruit of righteousness to those exercised by it.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the failing knees;

13 and make straight paths for your feet, that that which is lame be not turned aside; but that rather it may be healed.

14 Pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one shall see the Lord:

15 watching lest [there be] any one who lacks the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and many be defiled by it;

16 lest [there be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one meal sold his birthright;

17 for ye know that also afterwards, desiring to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, (for he found no place for repentance) although he sought it earnestly with tears.

18 For ye have not come to [the mount] that might be touched and was all on fire, and to obscurity, and darkness, and tempest,

19 and trumpet's sound, and voice of words; which they that heard, excusing themselves, declined [the] word being addressed to them any more:

20 (for they were not able to bear what was enjoined: And if a beast should touch the mountain, it shall be stoned;

21 and, so fearful was the sight, Moses said, I am exceedingly afraid and full of trembling;)

22 but ye have come to mount Zion; and to [the] city of [the] living God, heavenly Jerusalem; and to myriads of angels,

23 the universal gathering; and to [the] assembly of the firstborn [who are] registered in heaven; and to God, judge of all; and to [the] spirits of just [men] made perfect;

24 and to Jesus, mediator of a new covenant; and to [the] blood of sprinkling, speaking better than Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not him that speaks. For if those did not escape who had refused him who uttered the oracles on earth, much more we who turn away from him [who does so] from heaven:

26 whose voice then shook the earth; but now he has promised, saying, Yet once will *I* shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.

27 But this Yet once, signifies the removing of what is shaken, as being made, that what is not shaken may remain.

28 Wherefore let us, receiving a kingdom not to be shaken, have grace, by which let us serve God acceptably with reverence and fear.

29 For also our God [is] a consuming fire.

13 Let brotherly love abide.

Be not forgetful of hospitality; for by it some have unawares entertained angels.

Remember prisoners, as bound with [them]; those that are evil-treated, as being yourselves also in [the] body.

[Let] marriage [be held] every way in honour, and the bed [be] undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers will God judge.

[Let your] conversation [be] without love of money, satisfied with [your] present circumstances; for *he* has said, I will not leave thee, neither will I forsake thee.

So that, taking courage, we may say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not be afraid: what will man do unto me?

Remember your leaders who have spoken to you the word of God; and considering the issue of their conversation, imitate their faith.

Jesus Christ [is] the same yesterday, and to-day, and to the ages [to come].

Be not carried away with various and strange doctrines; for [it is] good that the heart be confirmed with grace, not meats; those who have walked in which have not been profited by [them].

10 We have an altar of which they have no right to eat who serve the tabernacle;

11 for of those beasts whose blood is carried [as sacrifices for sin] into the [holy of] holies by the high priest, of these the bodies are burned outside the camp.

12 Wherefore also Jesus, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered without the gate:

13 therefore let us go forth to him without the camp, bearing his reproach:

14 for we have not here an abiding city, but we seek the coming one.

15 By him therefore let us offer [the] sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, [the] fruit of [the] lips confessing his name.

16 But of doing good and communicating [of your substance] be not forgetful, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey your leaders, and be submissive; for *they* watch over your souls as those that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not groaning, for this [would be] unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us: for we persuade ourselves that we have a good conscience, in all things desirous to walk rightly.

19 But I much more beseech [you] to do this, that I may the more quickly be restored to you.

20 But the God of peace, who brought again from among [the] dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, in [the power of the] blood of [the] eternal covenant,

21 perfect you in every good work to the doing of his will, doing in you what is pleasing before him through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for the ages of ages. Amen.

22 But I beseech you, brethren, bear the word of exhortation, for it is but in few words that I have written to you.

23 Know that our brother Timotheus is set at liberty; with whom, if he should come soon, I will see you.

24 Salute all your leaders, and all the saints. They from Italy salute you.

25 Grace [be] with you all. Amen.

Faith in Action

11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for(A) and assurance about what we do not see.(B) This is what the ancients were commended for.(C)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command,(D) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(E) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(F) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(G)

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](H) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(I) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(J) in holy fear built an ark(K) to save his family.(L) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(M)

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(N) obeyed and went,(O) even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land(P) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(Q) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(R) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(S) with foundations,(T) whose architect and builder is God.(U) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(V) was enabled to bear children(W) because she[b] considered him faithful(X) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(Y) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(Z)

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(AA) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(AB) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(AC) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.(AD) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(AE) Therefore God is not ashamed(AF) to be called their God,(AG) for he has prepared a city(AH) for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(AI) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c](AJ) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(AK) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(AL)

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(AM) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(AN)

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(AO) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(AP)

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(AQ) 25 He chose to be mistreated(AR) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(AS) for the sake of Christ(AT) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(AU) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(AV) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(AW) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(AX)

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(AY)

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(AZ)

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d](BA)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon,(BB) Barak,(BC) Samson(BD) and Jephthah,(BE) about David(BF) and Samuel(BG) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,(BH) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,(BI) 34 quenched the fury of the flames,(BJ) and escaped the edge of the sword;(BK) whose weakness was turned to strength;(BL) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.(BM) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again.(BN) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging,(BO) and even chains and imprisonment.(BP) 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e](BQ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword.(BR) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,(BS) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves(BT) and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended(BU) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,(BV) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us(BW) would they be made perfect.(BX)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run(BY) with perseverance(BZ) the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,(CA) the pioneer(CB) and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,(CC) scorning its shame,(CD) and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.(CE) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary(CF) and lose heart.

God Disciplines His Children

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.(CG) And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
    and do not lose heart(CH) when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,(CI)
    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[f](CJ)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children.(CK) For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline(CL)—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits(CM) and live!(CN) 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.(CO) 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace(CP) for those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.(CQ) 13 “Make level paths for your feet,”[g](CR) so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.(CS)

Warning and Encouragement

14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone(CT) and to be holy;(CU) without holiness no one will see the Lord.(CV) 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God(CW) and that no bitter root(CX) grows up to cause trouble and defile many. 16 See that no one is sexually immoral,(CY) or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.(CZ) 17 Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,(DA) he could not change what he had done.

The Mountain of Fear and the Mountain of Joy

18 You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;(DB) 19 to a trumpet blast(DC) or to such a voice speaking words(DD) that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,(DE) 20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned to death.”[h](DF) 21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.”[i](DG)

22 But you have come to Mount Zion,(DH) to the city(DI) of the living God,(DJ) the heavenly Jerusalem.(DK) You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn,(DL) whose names are written in heaven.(DM) You have come to God, the Judge of all,(DN) to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,(DO) 24 to Jesus the mediator(DP) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood(DQ) that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.(DR)

25 See to it that you do not refuse(DS) him who speaks.(DT) If they did not escape when they refused him who warned(DU) them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?(DV) 26 At that time his voice shook the earth,(DW) but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[j](DX) 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken(DY)—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken,(DZ) let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,(EA) 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.”[k](EB)

Concluding Exhortations

13 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters.(EC) Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers,(ED) for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.(EE) Continue to remember those in prison(EF) as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Marriage should be honored by all,(EG) and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.(EH) Keep your lives free from the love of money(EI) and be content with what you have,(EJ) because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;
    never will I forsake you.”[l](EK)

So we say with confidence,

“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”[m](EL)

Remember your leaders,(EM) who spoke the word of God(EN) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate(EO) their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.(EP)

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.(EQ) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened(ER) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,(ES) which is of no benefit to those who do so.(ET) 10 We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle(EU) have no right to eat.(EV)

11 The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,(EW) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.(EX) 12 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate(EY) to make the people holy(EZ) through his own blood.(FA) 13 Let us, then, go to him(FB) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.(FC) 14 For here we do not have an enduring city,(FD) but we are looking for the city that is to come.(FE)

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice(FF) of praise—the fruit of lips(FG) that openly profess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(FH) for with such sacrifices(FI) God is pleased.

17 Have confidence in your leaders(FJ) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you(FK) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

18 Pray for us.(FL) We are sure that we have a clear conscience(FM) and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.(FN)

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace,(FO) who through the blood of the eternal covenant(FP) brought back from the dead(FQ) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,(FR) 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will,(FS) and may he work in us(FT) what is pleasing to him,(FU) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.(FV)

22 Brothers and sisters, I urge you to bear with my word of exhortation, for in fact I have written to you quite briefly.(FW)

23 I want you to know that our brother Timothy(FX) has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.

24 Greet all your leaders(FY) and all the Lord’s people. Those from Italy(FZ) send you their greetings.

25 Grace be with you all.(GA)

Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
  2. Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
  3. Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
  4. Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
  5. Hebrews 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoning; they were put to the test;
  6. Hebrews 12:6 Prov. 3:11,12 (see Septuagint)
  7. Hebrews 12:13 Prov. 4:26
  8. Hebrews 12:20 Exodus 19:12,13
  9. Hebrews 12:21 See Deut. 9:19.
  10. Hebrews 12:26 Haggai 2:6
  11. Hebrews 12:29 Deut. 4:24
  12. Hebrews 13:5 Deut. 31:6
  13. Hebrews 13:6 Psalm 118:6,7