1 Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders bore witness.3 By faith we understand that the universe was prepared by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen did not come into existence from things which are visible.4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.5 By faith Enoch was translated so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had translated him; for before he was translated he had this testimony, that he pleased God.6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not understanding where he was going.9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude; innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were foreigners and pilgrims on the earth.14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.15 And truly if they had called to mind that place from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.16 But now they reach forth to a better, that is, a heavenly place. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 of whom it was said, In Isaac your Seed shall be called,19 reckoning that God had the power to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and did homage on the top of his staff.22 By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper male child; and they were not afraid of the kings decree.24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter,25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin,26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the recompense.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 blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn should not touch them.29 By faith they crossed over the Red Sea as through dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were swallowed up.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, turned to flight the armies of foreigners.35 Women received their dead raised to life again. And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.36 Still others had trial of mockings and floggings, yes, and of bonds and imprisonment.37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tried, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, oppressed;38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.39 And all these, having borne witness through faith, did not obtain the promise,40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made complete apart from us.
1 But feith is the substaunce of thingis that ben to be hopid, and an argument of thingis not apperynge.2 And in this feith elde men han gete witnessyng.3 Bi feith we vndurstonden that the worldis weren maad bi Goddis word, that visible thingis weren maad of vnuysible thingis.4 Bi feith Abel offride a myche more sacrifice than Caym to God, bi which he gat witnessyng to be iust, for God bar witnessyng to hise yiftis; and bi that feith he deed spekith yit.5 Bi feith Ennok was translatid, that he schulde not se deth; and he was not foundun, for the Lord translatide him. For bifore translacioun he hadde witnessing that he pleside God.6 And it is impossible to plese God without feith. For it bihoueth that a man comynge to God, bileue that he is, and that he is rewardere to men that seken hym.7 Bi feith Noe dredde, thorouy answere takun of these thingis that yit weren not seyn, and schapide a schip in to the helthe of his hous; bi which he dampnede the world, and is ordeyned eir of riytwisnesse, which is bi feith.8 By feith he that is clepid Abraham, obeiede to go out in to a place, whiche he schulde take in to eritage; and he wente out, not witinge whidur he schulde go.9 Bi feith he dwelte in the loond of biheest, as in an alien loond, dwellynge in litle housis with Ysaac and Jacob, euene heiris of the same biheest.10 For he abood a citee hauynge foundementis, whos crafti man and maker is God.11 Bi feith also the ilke Sara bareyn, took vertu in consceyuyng of seed, yhe, ayen the tyme of age; for sche bileuede hym trewe, that hadde bihiyte.12 For which thing of oon, and yit nyy deed, ther ben borun as sterris of heuene in multitude, and as grauel that is at the see side out of noumbre.13 Bi feith alle these ben deed, whanne the biheestis weren not takun, but thei bihelden hem afer, and gretynge hem wel, and knoulechide that thei weren pilgryms, and herboryd men on the erthe.14 And thei that sayn these thingis, signifien that thei sechen a cuntre.15 `If thei hadden hadde mynde of the ilke, of which thei wenten out, thei hadden tyme of turnyng ayen;16 but now thei desiren a betere, that is to seie, heuenli. Therfor God is not confoundid to be clepid the God of hem; for he made redi to hem a citee.17 Bi feith Abraham offride Ysaac, whanne he was temptid; and he offride the oon bigetun, whych had takun the biheestis;18 to whom it was seid, For in Ysaac the seed schal be clepid to thee.19 For he demyde, that God is myyti to reise hym, yhe, fro deth; wherfor he took hym also in to a parable.20 Bi feith also of thingis to comynge, Ysaac blesside Jacob and Esau.21 Bi feith Jacob diynge blesside alle the sones of Joseph, and onouride the hiynesse of his yerde.22 Bi feith Joseph dyynge hadde mynde of the passyng forth of the children of Israel, and comaundide of hise boonys.23 Bi feith Moyses borun, was hid thre monethis of his fadir and modir, for that thei seiyen the yonge child fair; and thei dredden not the maundement of the king.24 Bi feith Moises was maad greet, and denyede that he was the sone of Faraos douytir,25 and chees more to be turmentid with the puple of God, than to haue myrthe of temporal synne;26 demynge the repreef of Crist more richessis than the tresours of Egipcians; for he bihelde in to the rewarding.27 Bi feith he forsook Egipt, and dredde not the hardynesse of the king; for he abood, as seinge hym that was vnuysible.28 Bi feith he halewide pask, and the scheding out of blood, that he that distriede the firste thingis of Egipcians, schulde not touche hem.29 Bi feith thei passiden the reed see, as bi drye lond, which thing Egipcians asaiynge weren deuourid.30 Bi feith the wallis of Jerico felden doun, bi cumpassyng of seuene daies.31 Bi feith Raab hoor resseyuede the aspieris with pees, and perischide not with vnbileueful men.32 And what yit schal Y seie? For tyme schal faile to me tellynge of Gedeon, Barak, Sampson, Jepte, Dauid, and Samuel, and of othere prophetis;33 whiche bi feith ouercamen rewmes, wrouyten riytwisnesse, gaten repromyssiouns; thei stoppiden the mouthis of liouns,34 thei quenchiden the feersnesse of fier, thei dryueden awei the egge of swerd, thei coueriden of sijknesse, thei weren maad strong in batel, thei turneden the oostis of aliens.35 Wymmen resseyueden her deed children fro deth to lijf; but othere weren holdun forth, not takinge redempcioun, that thei schulden fynde a betere ayenrising.36 And othere asaieden scornyngis and betingis, more ouer and boondis and prisouns.37 Thei weren stoned, thei weren sawid, thei weren temptid, thei weren deed in sleyng of swerd. Thei wenten aboute in broc skynnes, and in skynnes of geet, nedi, angwischid, turmentid;38 to whiche the world was not worthi. Thei erriden in wildernessis, in mounteynes and dennes, and caues of the erthe.39 And alle these, preued bi witnessing of feith, token not repromyssioun;40 for God purueiede sum betere thing for vs, that thei schulden not be maad perfit with outen vs.