1 Now faith is {the} substantiating of things hoped for, {the} conviction of things not seen.
2 For in {the power of} this the elders have obtained testimony.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
1 信就是对所盼望的事的把握, 是还没有看见的事的明证。
2 因着这信心, 古人得到了称许。
3 因着信, 我们就明白宇宙("宇宙"或译: "诸世界"或"众世代")是因着 神的话造成的。这样, 那看得见的就是从那看不见的造出来的。
4 因着信, 亚伯比该隐献上更美的祭品给 神; 借着这信心, 他被 神称许为义人, 这是 神指着他的礼物所作的见证; 他虽然死了, 却借着信仍然说话。
5 因着信, 以诺被迁去了, 使他不至于死, 人也找不着他, 因为 神把他迁去了。原来在迁去以前, 他已经得了 神喜悦他的明证。
6 没有信, 就不能得到 神的喜悦; 因为来到 神面前的人, 必须信 神存在, 并且信他会赏赐那些寻求他的人。
7 因着信, 挪亚在还没有看见的事上, 得了 神的警告, 就动了敬畏的心, 做了一艘方舟, 使他全家得救。借着这信心, 他就定了那世代的罪, 自己也承受了那因信而来的义。
8 因着信, 亚伯拉罕在蒙召的时候, 就听命往他将要承受为业的地方去; 他出去的时候, 还不知道要往哪里去。
9 因着信, 他在应许之地寄居, 好像是在异乡, 与承受同样应许的以撒、雅各一样住在帐棚里。
10 因为他等待那座有根基的城, 就是 神所设计所建造的。
11 因着信, 甚至撒拉, 她虽然过了生育的年龄, 还是能够怀孕, 因为她认为那应许她的是信实的。
12 所以从一个好像已死的人, 竟然生出许多子孙来, 仿佛天上的星那么众多, 海边的沙那么无数。
13 这些人都是存着信心死了的, 还没有得着所应许的, 只不过是从远处看见, 就表示欢迎, 又承认他们在世上是异乡人, 是客旅。
14 因为说这样话的人, 是表明他们在寻求一个家乡。
15 如果他们怀念已经离开了的地方, 还有可以回去的机会。
16 但是现在他们所向往的, 是一个更美的、在天上的家乡。所以, 神不以他们称他为 神而觉得羞耻; 因为他已经为他们预备了一座城。
17 因着信, 亚伯拉罕在受试验的时候, 就把以撒献上; 这就是那欢喜领受应许的人, 献上了自己的独生子;
18 论到这个儿子, 曾经有话说: "以撒生的, 才可以称为你的后裔。"
19 亚伯拉罕认定, 神能使人从死人中复活, 因此, 就喻意说, 他的确从死里得回他的儿子。
20 因着信, 以撒给雅各和以扫祝福, 论到将来的事。
21 因着信, 雅各临死的时候, 分别为约瑟的儿子祝福, 又倚着杖头敬拜 神。
22 因着信, 约瑟临终的时候, 提到以色列子民出埃及的事, 并且为自己的骸骨留下遗言。
23 因着信, 摩西的父母在摩西生下来以后, 因为看见孩子俊美, 就把他藏了三个月, 不怕王的命令。
24 因着信, 摩西长大了以后, 就拒绝被称为法老女儿的儿子。
25 他宁愿选择和 神的子民一同受苦, 也不肯享受罪恶中暂时的快乐。
26 在他看来, 为着基督受的凌辱, 比埃及的财物更宝贵, 因为他注视将来的赏赐。
27 因着信, 他离开了埃及, 不怕王的忿怒; 因为他坚定不移, 就像看见了人不能看见的 神。
28 因着信, 他立了逾越节和洒血的礼, 免得那灭命的侵犯以色列人的长子。
29 因着信, 他们走过了红海, 好像走过旱地一样; 埃及人也试着要过去, 就被淹没了。
30 因着信, 耶利哥的城墙被围绕了七天, 就倒塌了。
31 因着信, 妓女喇合和和平平接待了侦察的人, 就没有和那些不顺从的人一起灭亡。
32 我还要再说什么呢?如果再要述说基甸、巴拉、参孙、耶弗他、大卫、撒母耳和众先知的事, 时间就不够了。
33 他们借着信, 就战胜了敌国, 伸张了正义, 得到了应许, 堵住了狮子的口,
34 消灭了烈火的威力, 逃脱了刀剑的锋刃, 软弱变成刚强, 在战争中显出大能, 把外国的军队击退。
35 有些妇女得回从死里复活的亲人; 但也有些人忍受了酷刑, 不肯接受释放, 为的是要得着更美的复活。
36 又有些人遭受了戏弄、鞭打, 甚至捆锁、监禁;
37 被石头打死, 被锯锯死, (后期抄本在此加上"受试探")被刀杀死。他们披着绵羊山羊的皮到处奔跑、受穷乏、遭患难、被虐待;
38 原是这世界不配有的人。他们飘流无定, 在旷野、山岭、石洞和地穴栖身。
39 所有这些人都借着信得了称许, 却还没有得着所应许的;
40 因为 神已经为我们预备了更美的事, 使他们若不跟我们在一起, 就不能完全。