1 Ent usk on kindel usaldus selle vastu, mida oodatakse, ja veendumus selles, mis pole veel nähtav. 2 Selle usu kohta on meie esivanemad saanud hea tunnistuse.

3 Usu kaudu me mõistame, et maailmad on valmistatud Jumala sõna läbi, nii et nähtamatust on sündinud nähtav.

4 Usus tõi Aabel Jumalale parema ohvri kui Kain. Selle tõttu tunnistas Jumal ta õigeks, kui Jumal kiitis heaks tema annid, ja usu kaudu kõneleb Aabel meile veel surnunagi.

5 Usus võeti ära Eenok, nii et ta ei näinud surma: teda ei leitud enam, sest Jumal oli ta ära võtnud. Aga enne ülesvõtmist oli ta saanud tunnistuse, et ta oli Jumalale meelepärane. 6 Kuid ilma usuta on võimatu olla meelepärane. Sest igaüks, kes tuleb Jumala juurde, peab uskuma, et tema on olemas ja et ta annab palga neile, kes teda otsivad.

7 Usu läbi sai Noa hoiatuse selle kohta, mida veel ei olnud näha, ja pühas kartuses ehitas ta laeva, millega pääses tema pere. Usu kaudu mõistis ta hukka maailma ja sai selle õiguse pärijaks, mis tuleb usust.

8 Usus läks Aabraham kuulekalt teele, kui teda kutsuti paika, mille ta pidi saama pärandiks. Ta läks teele, teadmata, kuhu ta läheb. 9 Usu läbi rajas ta oma kodu tõotatud maale otsekui sisserändaja võõrsile, elades telkides koos Iisaki ja Jaakobiga, kellele see tõotus samuti kuulus. 10 Sest ta ootas kindlale vundamendile rajatud linna, mille kavandaja ja ehitaja on Jumal. 11 Ja usu läbi sai isegi viljatu Saara väe suguvõsa alustamiseks, kuigi oli sünnituseast juba ammu väljas, sest ta pidas tõotuse andjat ustavaks. 12 Nii sündis ühest elujõu kaotanud mehest nõnda rohkesti järglasi, nagu on taevas tähti ja nagu merekaldal liiva, mida ei saa ära lugeda.

13 Need kõik surid uskudes. Nad ei saanud kätte tõotusi, kuid nad nägid ja tervitasid neid eemalt. Ja nad tunnistasid, et nad on võõrad ja läbirändajad maa peal. 14 Sest kes nõnda räägivad, näitavad, et nad igatsevad kodumaad. 15 Kui nad oleks meenutanud kodumaad, kust nad olid lahkunud, siis nad oleks saanud ju pöörduda tagasi. 16 Aga nad igatsevad paremat, see tähendab taevast kodumaad. Seepärast Jumal ei häbene lasta end hüüda nende Jumalaks, kuna tema on valmistanud neile linna.

17 Usu läbi Aabraham, kui Jumal ta proovile pani, loovutas ohvriks Iisaki; tema, kellele olid antud tõotused, tõi ohvrimäele oma ainsa poja, 18 kuigi Jumal oli talle öelnud: „Sinu sugu loetakse Iisakist." 19 Aabraham leidis, et Jumal võib isegi surnuid üles äratada, ja selle võrdpildina sai ta Iisaki surmast tagasi.

20 Usus õnnistas ka Iisak Jaakobit ja Eesavit tulevaste asjade suhtes.

21 Usus õnnistas surev Jaakob Joosepi mõlemat poega ja kummardas palves oma kepi najal.

22 Usus meenutas Joosep oma elu lõpul Iisraeli laste lahkumist ja andis korralduse oma luude kohta.

23 Usus varjasid Moosese vanemad pärast ta sündimist teda kolm kuud, sest nad nägid, et ta on ilus laps, ega kartnud teha kuninga käsu vastu.

24 Usus keeldus Mooses suureks saades laskmast end nimetada vaarao tütrepojaks, 25 eelistades pigem taluda kurja kohtlemist koos Jumala rahvaga, kui nautida üürikest aega pattu. 26 Ta pidas Egiptuse aardeist suuremaks rikkuseks teotust Kristuse pärast, sest ta kinnitas oma pilgu tulevasele tasule. 27 Usus lahkus ta Egiptusest, kartmata kuninga raevu, sest otsekui nähes teda, kes on nähtamatu, püsis ta kindlana. 28 Usus korraldas ta paasapüha ja verega piserdamise uksepiitadele, et hävitusingel ei puutuks nende esmasündinuid.

29 Usus läksid Iisraeli lapsed läbi Punase mere nagu kuiva maa, aga kui egiptlased üritasid sama, siis nad uppusid.

30 Usus varisesid Jeeriko müürid, kui seitse päeva oli käidud nende ümber.

31 Usus ei hukkunud hoor Raahab koos uskmatutega, sest ta oli rahuga vastu võtnud maakuulajad.

32 Mida ma veel ütleksin? Mul puudub aeg hakata rääkima Gideonist, Baarakist, Simsonist, Jeftast, Taavetist, Saamuelist ja prohvetitest, 33 kes usu läbi vallutasid kuningriike, mõistsid kohut, said kätte tõotusi. Nad sulgesid lõvide lõuad, 34 summutasid tule jõu, pääsesid mõõgatera eest, said nõtrusest tugevaks, osutusid vägevaks sõjas, lõid põgenema võõraste sõjahulgad. 35 Naised said tagasi oma surnud ülestõusmise läbi. Teised lasksid end piinata surnuks, võtmata vastu pakutud vabadust ja eelistades paremat ülestõusmist. 36 Teised said tunda jõhkrat pilkamist ja piitsahoope ning ahelaid vangikongis. 37 Neid on visatud kividega surnuks, pooleks saetud, mõõgaga hukatud. Nad on käinud lamba- ja kitsenahas ja olnud puuduses, rõhutud, vaevatud – 38 maailm ei olnud neid väärt. Nad ekslesid tühermaadel, mägedes, koobastes ja maalõhedes.

39 Ja kuigi neid kõiki usu pärast kiideti, ei saanud nad kätte tõotust, 40 sest Jumal on midagi paremat kavandanud meie jaoks, et ainult koos meiega saaksid nad täiuslikuks.

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 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 had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky 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 afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from 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 he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.