1 Ora, a fé é a certeza de coisas que se esperam, a convicção de fatos que se não veem. 2 Pois, pela fé, os antigos obtiveram bom testemunho. 3 Pela fé, entendemos que foi o universo formado pela palavra de Deus, de maneira que o visível veio a existir das coisas que não aparecem.

4 Pela fé, Abel ofereceu a Deus mais excelente sacrifício do que Caim; pelo qual obteve testemunho de ser justo, tendo a aprovação de Deus quanto às suas ofertas. Por meio dela, também mesmo depois de morto, ainda fala. 5 Pela fé, Enoque foi trasladado para não ver a morte; não foi achado, porque Deus o trasladara. Pois, antes da sua trasladação, obteve testemunho de haver agradado a Deus. 6 De fato, sem fé é impossível agradar a Deus, porquanto é necessário que aquele que se aproxima de Deus creia que ele existe e que se torna galardoador dos que o buscam. 7 Pela fé, Noé, divinamente instruído acerca de acontecimentos que ainda não se viam e sendo temente a Deus, aparelhou uma arca para a salvação de sua casa; pela qual condenou o mundo e se tornou herdeiro da justiça que vem da fé.

8 Pela fé, Abraão, quando chamado, obedeceu, a fim de ir para um lugar que devia receber por herança; e partiu sem saber aonde ia. 9 Pela fé, peregrinou na terra da promessa como em terra alheia, habitando em tendas com Isaque e Jacó, herdeiros com ele da mesma promessa; 10 porque aguardava a cidade que tem fundamentos, da qual Deus é o arquiteto e edificador. 11 Pela fé, também, a própria Sara recebeu poder para ser mãe, não obstante o avançado de sua idade, pois teve por fiel aquele que lhe havia feito a promessa. 12 Por isso, também de um, aliás já amortecido, saiu uma posteridade tão numerosa como as estrelas do céu e inumerável como a areia que está na praia do mar.

13 Todos estes morreram na fé, sem ter obtido as promessas; vendo-as, porém, de longe, e saudando-as, e confessando que eram estrangeiros e peregrinos sobre a terra. 14 Porque os que falam desse modo manifestam estar procurando uma pátria. 15 E, se, na verdade, se lembrassem daquela de onde saíram, teriam oportunidade de voltar. 16 Mas, agora, aspiram a uma pátria superior, isto é, celestial. Por isso, Deus não se envergonha deles, de ser chamado o seu Deus, porquanto lhes preparou uma cidade.

17 Pela fé, Abraão, quando posto à prova, ofereceu Isaque; estava mesmo para sacrificar o seu unigênito aquele que acolheu alegremente as promessas, 18 a quem se tinha dito:

Em Isaque será chamada a tua descendência;

19 porque considerou que Deus era poderoso até para ressuscitá-lo dentre os mortos, de onde também, figuradamente, o recobrou. 20 Pela fé, igualmente Isaque abençoou a Jacó e a Esaú, acerca de coisas que ainda estavam para vir. 21 Pela fé, Jacó, quando estava para morrer, abençoou cada um dos filhos de José e, apoiado sobre a extremidade do seu bordão, adorou. 22 Pela fé, José, próximo do seu fim, fez menção do êxodo dos filhos de Israel, bem como deu ordens quanto aos seus próprios ossos.

23 Pela fé, Moisés, apenas nascido, foi ocultado por seus pais, durante três meses, porque viram que a criança era formosa; também não ficaram amedrontados pelo decreto do rei. 24 Pela fé, Moisés, quando já homem feito, recusou ser chamado filho da filha de Faraó, 25 preferindo ser maltratado junto com o povo de Deus a usufruir prazeres transitórios do pecado; 26 porquanto considerou o opróbrio de Cristo por maiores riquezas do que os tesouros do Egito, porque contemplava o galardão. 27 Pela fé, ele abandonou o Egito, não ficando amedrontado com a cólera do rei; antes, permaneceu firme como quem vê aquele que é invisível. 28 Pela fé, celebrou a Páscoa e o derramamento do sangue, para que o exterminador não tocasse nos primogênitos dos israelitas. 29 Pela fé, atravessaram o mar Vermelho como por terra seca; tentando-o os egípcios, foram tragados de todo.

30 Pela fé, ruíram as muralhas de Jericó, depois de rodeadas por sete dias. 31 Pela fé, Raabe, a meretriz, não foi destruída com os desobedientes, porque acolheu com paz aos espias.

32 E que mais direi? Certamente, me faltará o tempo necessário para referir o que há a respeito de Gideão, de Baraque, de Sansão, de Jefté, de Davi, de Samuel e dos profetas, 33 os quais, por meio da fé, subjugaram reinos, praticaram a justiça, obtiveram promessas, fecharam a boca de leões, 34 extinguiram a violência do fogo, escaparam ao fio da espada, da fraqueza tiraram força, fizeram-se poderosos em guerra, puseram em fuga exércitos de estrangeiros. 35 Mulheres receberam, pela ressurreição, os seus mortos. Alguns foram torturados, não aceitando seu resgate, para obterem superior ressurreição; 36 outros, por sua vez, passaram pela prova de escárnios e açoites, sim, até de algemas e prisões. 37 Foram apedrejados, provados, serrados pelo meio, mortos a fio de espada; andaram peregrinos, vestidos de peles de ovelhas e de cabras, necessitados, afligidos, maltratados 38 (homens dos quais o mundo não era digno), errantes pelos desertos, pelos montes, pelas covas, pelos antros da terra.

39 Ora, todos estes que obtiveram bom testemunho por sua fé não obtiveram, contudo, a concretização da promessa, 40 por haver Deus provido coisa superior a nosso respeito, para que eles, sem nós, não fossem aperfeiçoados.

1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen. 2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh. 5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God: 6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised: 12 wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. 15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens. 35 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated 38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. 39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

3 By 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.

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

5 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." "For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

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

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she "considered him faithful who had made the promise.

12 And so from this 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.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

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.

16 Instead, 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.

17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. 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." [^3]

19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, 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.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, 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.

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

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

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

26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt, 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 of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

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.

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

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. [^4]

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. 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, and even chains and imprisonment.

37 They were put to death by stoning; "they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated —

38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,

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