1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. 2 For by this, the elders obtained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God testifying with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’t see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God. 6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for 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 to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. 9 By faith he lived as an alien 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 was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son, 18 to whom it was said, "Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac," 19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

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 worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God’s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. 27 By faith he left 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 on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

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

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

32 What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets— 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out 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, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise, 40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

1 Aga usk on kindel usaldus selle vastu, mida oodatakse, ja veendumus selles, mida ei nähta.

2 Selle kohta on ju vanad saanud tunnistuse.

3 Usu kaudu me tunneme, et maailmad on valmistatud Jumala sõna läbi, nii et mitte sellest, mida võib näha, ei ole tekkinud see, mida nähakse.

4 Usu läbi tõi Aabel Jumalale parema ohvri kui Kain, ja usu kaudu ta sai tunnistuse, et tema oli õige, kui Jumal andis tunnistuse tema andide kohta, ja usu kaudu ta räägib veel pärast surmagi.

5 Usu läbi võeti ära Eenok, et ta surma ei näeks, ja teda ei leitud enam, sest Jumal oli ta ära võtnud. Sest enne äravõttu oli ta juba saanud tunnistuse, et ta oli Jumalale meelepärane.

6 Aga ilma usuta on võimatu olla meelepärane; sest kes Jumala juurde tuleb, peab uskuma, et Tema on olemas ja et Ta annab palga neile, kes Teda otsivad.

7 Usu kaudu sai Noa ilmutuse sellest, mida veel ei olnud näha, ja ehitas pühas kartuses laeva oma perekonna päästmiseks; ja selle kaudu ta mõistis hukka maailma ning sai selle õiguse pärijaks, mis tuleb usust.

8 Usu läbi kuulas Aabraham sõna, kui teda kutsuti välja minema paika, mille ta pidi saama pärandiks; ja ta läks välja ilma teadmata, kuhu ta läheb.

9 Usu läbi asus ta võõrana elama tõotusemaale otsekui võõrale maale ja elas telkides ühes Iisaki ja Jaakobiga, kes olid sama tõotuse kaaspärijad;

10 sest ta ootas linna, millel on alused ja mille ehitaja ning valmistaja on Jumal.

11 Usu läbi sai isegi Saara rammu soo rajamiseks ja pealegi üle oma ea, sellepärast et ta pidas ustavaks teda, kes tõotuse oli andnud.

12 Sellepärast sündis ka ühest ja pealegi elatanud mehest nii palju nagu taevas tähti ja nagu mere ääres liiva, mida ei saa ära lugeda.

13 Usus need kõik surid ega saanud tõotusi kätte, vaid nägid neid kaugelt ja teretasid neid ning tunnistasid endid olevat võõrad ja majalised maa peal.

14 Sest need, kes seda ütlevad, näitavad, et nad otsivad kodumaad.

15 Ja kui nad oleksid mõelnud seda kodumaad, kust nad olid väljunud, siis oleks neil ju olnud juhust minna tagasi.

16 Ent nüüd nad igatsevad paremat kodumaad, see on taevast; seepärast ei ole Jumalal neist häbi ja Ta laseb Ennast nimetada nende Jumalaks; sest Ta on neile valmistanud linna.

17 Usu läbi viis Aabraham ohvriks Iisaki, kui teda katsuti, ja ohverdas selle ainusündinu, kui ta oli saanud tõotused

18 ning kui temale oli öeldud: „Iisakist loetakse sinu sugu!"

19 Sest ta mõtles, et Jumal on võimeline ka surnuist üles äratama; selle mõistukujuks ta sai tema ka tagasi.

20 Usu läbi õnnistas ka Iisak Jaakobit ja Eesavit tulevaste asjade suhtes.

21 Usu läbi õnnistas Jaakob surres kumbagi Joosepi poegadest ja palvetas oma kepi pära najal.

22 Usu läbi tuletas Joosep oma eluotsal meelde Iisraeli laste väljumist ja tegi korralduse oma luude kohta.

23 Usu läbi varjasid vanemad Moosest pärast ta sündimist kolm kuud, sest nad nägid ta ilusa lapse olevat ega kartnud kuninga käsku.

24 Usu läbi keeldus Mooses, kui ta suureks sai, kandmast vaarao tütrepoja nime,

25 pidades paremaks ühes Jumala rahvaga kannatada viletsust kui üürikest aega nautida paturõõmu,

26 arvates Kristuse teotust suuremaks rikkuseks kui Egiptuse aarded; sest ta tõstis oma silmad tasu poole.

27 Usu läbi ta jättis maha Egiptuse ega kartnud kuninga viha, sest otsekui nähes teda, kes on nähtamatu, püsis ta kindlana.

28 Usu läbi ta pidas Paasapüha ja vere piserdust, et esmasündinute surmaja ei puudutaks neid.

29 Usu läbi nad läksid Punasest merest läbi nagu kuiva maad mööda, mida ka egiptlased katsusid teha, aga uppusid.

30 Usu läbi langesid Jeeriko müürid, kui seitse päeva oli käidud nende ümber.

31 Usu läbi ei saanud hoor Raahab hukka ühes sõnakuulmatutega, kui ta salakuulajad oli rahuga vastu võtnud.

32 Ja mida ma veel ütleksin? Mul puudub aeg jutustada Giideonist ja Baarakist ja Simsonist ja Jeftast ja Taavetist ja Saamuelist ja prohvetitest,

33 kes usu läbi võitsid ära kuningriigid, viisid täide õiguse, said kätte tõotused, sulgesid lõukoerte lõuad,

34 kustutasid tule väe, pääsesid ära mõõgatera eest, said nõtrusest tugevaks, said vägevaks sõjas, ajasid pakku võõraste sõjahulgad.

35 Naised said tagasi oma surnud ülestõusmise läbi. Teised lasksid ennast piinata ega võtnud vastu vabastamist, et saaksid parema ülestõusmise osalisiks.

36 Teised said kogeda pilget ja rooska, peale selle ahelaid ja vangitorni.

37 Neid on kividega visatud, piinatud, lõhki saetud, mõõgaga surmatud; nad on lambanahas ja kitsenahas käinud ühest kohast teise, puuduses, viletsuses, kurja kannatades, nemad,

38 kelle väärt maailm ei olnud. Nad eksisid ümber kõrbetes ja mägedel ja koobastes ja maa-aukudes.

39 Ja need kõik, olles usu läbi saanud tunnistuse, ei saavutanud ometi mitte seda, mis oli tõotatud;

40 sest Jumal oli meile varunud midagi paremat, et nad ilma meieta ei pääseks täielikkusesse.