Berean Study Bible

English Standard Version

1Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

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

2This is why the ancients were commended.

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

3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was 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 God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

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 did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased 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 God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly 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, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by 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 called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without 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 dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him 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 forward to the city with 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 Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because 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.

12And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on 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 people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged 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.

14Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

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

15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, 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.

16Instead, they were longing for a better country, 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 on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only 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,

18even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

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

19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

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 concerning the future.

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

21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned 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 his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about 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’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid 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 was grown, 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,

25He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

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

26He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

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

27By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

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 blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

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

29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they 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, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

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

31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

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? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, 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 through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

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

34quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and 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, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain 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.

36Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

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

37They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

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—

38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in 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.

39These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

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

40God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

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

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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.