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 OR la fede è una sussistenza delle cose che si sperano, ed una dimostrazione delle cose che non si veggono.

2 Perciocchè per essa fu resa testimonianza agli antichi.

3 Per fede intendiamo che i secoli sono stati composti per la parola di Dio; sì che le cose che si vedono non sono state fatte di cose apparenti

4 Per fede Abele offerse a Dio sacrificio più eccellente che Caino; per la quale fu testimoniato ch’egli era giusto, rendendo Iddio testimonianza delle sue offerte; e per essa, dopo esser morto, parla ancora.

5 Per fede Enoc fu trasportato, per non veder la morte, e non fu trovato; perciocchè Iddio l’avea trasportato; poichè, avanti ch’egli fosse trasportato, fu di lui testimoniato ch’egli era piaciuto a Dio.

6 Ora, senza fede, è impossibile di piacergli; perciocchè colui che si accosta a Dio deve credere ch’egli è, e che egli è premiatore di coloro che lo ricercano.

7 Per fede Noè, ammonito per oracolo delle cose che non si vedevano ancora, avendo temuto, fabbricò, per la salvazione della sua famiglia, l’arca, per la quale egli condannò il mondo, e fu fatto erede della giustizia ch’è secondo la fede.

8 Per fede Abrahamo, essendo chiamato, ubbidì, per andarsene al luogo che egli avea da ricevere in eredità; e partì, non sapendo dove si andasse.

9 Per fede Abrahamo dimorò nel paese della promessa, come in paese strano, abitando in tende, con Isacco, e Giacobbe, coeredi della stessa promessa.

10 Perciocchè egli aspettava la città che ha i fondamenti, e il cui architetto e fabbricatore è Iddio.

11 Per fede ancora Sara stessa, essendo sterile, ricevette forza da concepir seme, e partorì fuor d’età; perciocchè reputò fedele colui che avea fatta la promessa.

12 Perciò ancora da uno, e quello già ammortato, son nati discendenti, in moltitudine come le stelle del cielo, e come le rena innumerabile che è lungo il lito del mare.

13 In fede son morti tutti costoro, non avendo ricevute le cose promesse; ma, avendole vedute di lontano, e credutele, e salutatele; ed avendo confessato ch’erano forestieri, e pellegrini sopra la terra.

14 Poichè coloro che dicono tali cose dimostrano che cercano una patria.

15 Che se pur si ricordavano di quella onde erano usciti, certo avean tempo da ritornarvi.

16 Ma ora ne desiderano una migliore, cioè, la celeste; perciò, Iddio non si vergogna di loro, d’esser chiamato lor Dio; poichè egli ha loro preparata una città.

17 Per fede Abrahamo, essendo provato, offerse Isacco; e colui che avea ricevute le promesse offerse il suo unigenito.

18 Egli, dico, a cui era stato detto: In Isacco ti sarà nominata progenie.

19 Avendo fatta ragione che Iddio era potente eziandio da suscitarlo da’ morti; onde ancora per similitudine lo ricoverò.

20 Per fede Isacco benedisse Giacobbe ed Esaù, intorno a cose future.

21 Per fede Giacobbe, morendo, benedisse ciascuno de’ figliuoli di Giuseppe; e adorò, appoggiato sopra la sommità del suo bastone.

22 Per fede Giuseppe, trapassando, fece menzione dell’uscita de’ figliuoli d’Israele, e diede ordine intorno alle sue ossa.

23 Per fede Mosè, essendo nato, fu nascosto da suo padre e da sua madre, lo spazio di tre mesi; perciocchè vedevano il fanciullo bello; e non temettero il comandamento del re.

24 Per fede Mosè, essendo divenuto grande, rifiutò d’esser chiamato figliuolo della figliuola di Faraone;

25 eleggendo innanzi d’essere afflitto col popol di Dio, che d’aver per un breve tempo godimento di peccato;

26 avendo reputato il vituperio di Cristo ricchezza maggiore de’ tesori di Egitto; perciocchè egli riguardava alla rimunerazione.

27 Per fede lasciò l’Egitto, non avendo temuta l’ira del re; perciocchè egli stette costante, come veggendo l’invisibile.

28 Per fede fece la pasqua, e lo spruzzamento del sangue; acciocchè colui che distruggeva i primogeniti non toccasse gli Ebrei.

29 Per fede passarono il Mar rosso, come per l’asciutto; il che tentando fare gli Egizi, furono abissati.

30 Per fede caddero le mura di Gerico, essendo state circuite per sette giorni.

31 Per fede Raab, la meretrice, avendo accolte le spie in pace, non perì con gli increduli

32 E che dirò io di più? poichè il tempo mi verrebbe meno, se imprendessi a raccontar di Gedeone, e di Barac, e di Sansone, e di Iefte, e di Davide, e di Samuele, e de’ profeti.

33 I quali per fede vinsero regni, operarono giustizia, ottennero promesse, turarono le gole de’ leoni,

34 spensero la forza del fuoco, scamparono i tagli delle spade, guarirono d’infermità, divennero forti in guerra, misero in fuga i campi degli stranieri.

35 Le donne ricuperarono per risurrezione i lor morti; ed altri furon fatti morire di battiture, non avendo accettata la liberazione, per ottenere una migliore risurrezione.

36 Altri ancora provarono scherni e flagelli; ed anche legami e prigione.

37 Furon lapidati, furon segati, furon tentati; morirono uccisi con la spada, andarono attorno in pelli di pecore e di capre; bisognosi, afflitti,

38 maltrattati de’ quali non era degno il mondo, erranti in deserti, e monti, e spelonche, e nelle grotte della terra.

39 E pur tutti costoro, alla cui fede la scrittura rende testimonianza, non ottennero la promessa.

40 Avendo Iddio provveduto qualche cosa di meglio per noi, acciocchè non pervenissero al compimento senza noi