Lettera agli Ebrei 11

DIODATI	NEW JERUSALEM
1 OR la fede è una sussistenza delle cose che si sperano, ed una dimostrazione delle cose che non si veggono.	1 Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that areunseen.
2 Perciocchè per essa fu resa testimonianza agli antichi.	2 It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.
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	3 It is by faith that we understand that the ages were created by a word from God, so that from theinvisible the visible world came to be.
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.	4 It was because of his faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and for that he wasacknowledged as upright when God himself made acknowledgement of his offerings. Though he is dead, he stillspeaks by faith.
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.	5 It was because of his faith that Enoch was taken up and did not experience death: he was no more,because God took him; because before his assumption he was acknowledged to have pleased God.
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.	6 Now it is impossible to please God without faith, since anyone who comes to him must believe that heexists and rewards those who seek him.
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.	7 It was through his faith that Noah, when he had been warned by God of something that had neverbeen seen before, took care to build an ark to save his family. His faith was a judgement on the world, and hewas able to claim the uprightness which comes from faith.
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.	8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the cal to set out for a country that was the inheritance given tohim and his descendants, and that he set out without knowing where he was going.
9 Per fede Abrahamo dimorò nel paese della promessa, come in paese strano, abitando in tende, con Isacco, e Giacobbe, coeredi della stessa promessa.	9 By faith he sojourned in the Promised Land as though it were not his, living in tents with Isaac andJacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 Perciocchè egli aspettava la città che ha i fondamenti, e il cui architetto e fabbricatore è Iddio.	10 He looked forward to the wel -founded city, designed and built by God.
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.	11 It was equal y by faith that Sarah, in spite of being past the age, was made able to conceive,because she believed that he who had made the promise was faithful to it.
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.	12 Because of this, there came from one man, and one who already had the mark of death on him,descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore which cannot becounted.
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.	13 Al these died in faith, before receiving any of the things that had been promised, but they saw themin the far distance and welcomed them, recognising that they were only strangers and nomads on earth.
14 Poichè coloro che dicono tali cose dimostrano che cercano una patria.	14 People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of ahomeland.
15 Che se pur si ricordavano di quella onde erano usciti, certo avean tempo da ritornarvi.	15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return to it;
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.	16 but in fact they were longing for a better homeland, their heavenly homeland. That is why God is notashamed to be cal ed their God, since he has founded the city for them.
17 Per fede Abrahamo, essendo provato, offerse Isacco; e colui che avea ricevute le promesse offerse il suo unigenito.	17 It was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He offered to sacrifice his onlyson even though he had yet to receive what had been promised,
18 Egli, dico, a cui era stato detto: In Isacco ti sarà nominata progenie.	18 and he had been told: Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on.
19 Avendo fatta ragione che Iddio era potente eziandio da suscitarlo da’ morti; onde ancora per similitudine lo ricoverò.	19 He was confident that God had the power even to raise the dead; and so, figuratively speaking, hewas given back Isaac from the dead.
20 Per fede Isacco benedisse Giacobbe ed Esaù, intorno a cose future.	20 It was by faith that this same Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob and Esau for the stil distant future.
21 Per fede Giacobbe, morendo, benedisse ciascuno de’ figliuoli di Giuseppe; e adorò, appoggiato sopra la sommità del suo bastone.	21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, bowed in reverence, as he leanton his staff.
22 Per fede Giuseppe, trapassando, fece menzione dell’uscita de’ figliuoli d’Israele, e diede ordine intorno alle sue ossa.	22 It was by faith that, when he was about to die, Joseph mentioned the Exodus of the Israelites andgave instructions about his own remains.
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.	23 It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was kept hidden by his parents for three months;because they saw that he was a fine child; they were not afraid of the royal edict.
24 Per fede Mosè, essendo divenuto grande, rifiutò d’esser chiamato figliuolo della figliuola di Faraone;	24 It was by faith that, when he was grown up, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh'sdaughter
25 eleggendo innanzi d’essere afflitto col popol di Dio, che d’aver per un breve tempo godimento di peccato;	25 and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than to enjoy the transitory pleasuresof sin.
26 avendo reputato il vituperio di Cristo ricchezza maggiore de’ tesori di Egitto; perciocchè egli riguardava alla rimunerazione.	26 He considered that the humiliations offered to the Anointed were something more precious than althe treasures of Egypt, because he had his eyes fixed on the reward.
27 Per fede lasciò l’Egitto, non avendo temuta l’ira del re; perciocchè egli stette costante, come veggendo l’invisibile.	27 It was by faith that he left Egypt without fear of the king's anger; he held to his purpose like someonewho could see the Invisible.
28 Per fede fece la pasqua, e lo spruzzamento del sangue; acciocchè colui che distruggeva i primogeniti non toccasse gli Ebrei.	28 It was by faith that he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood to prevent the Destroyer fromtouching any of their first-born sons.
29 Per fede passarono il Mar rosso, come per l’asciutto; il che tentando fare gli Egizi, furono abissati.	29 It was by faith they crossed the Red Sea as easily as dry land, while the Egyptians, trying to do thesame, were drowned.
30 Per fede caddero le mura di Gerico, essendo state circuite per sette giorni.	30 It was through faith that the wal s of Jericho fel down when the people had marched round them forseven days.
31 Per fede Raab, la meretrice, avendo accolte le spie in pace, non perì con gli increduli	31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies and so was not killed with theunbelievers.
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.	32 What more shal I say? There is not time for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson,Jephthah, or of David, Samuel and the prophets.
33 I quali per fede vinsero regni, operarono giustizia, ottennero promesse, turarono le gole de’ leoni,	33 These were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what was upright and earned thepromises. They could keep a lion's mouth shut,
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.	34 put out blazing fires and emerge unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were givenstrength to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders.
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.	35 Some returned to their wives from the dead by resurrection; and others submitted to torture, refusingrelease so that they would rise again to a better life.
36 Altri ancora provarono scherni e flagelli; ed anche legami e prigione.	36 Some had to bear being pil oried and flogged, or even chained up in prison.
37 Furon lapidati, furon segati, furon tentati; morirono uccisi con la spada, andarono attorno in pelli di pecore e di capre; bisognosi, afflitti,	37 They were stoned, or sawn in half, or kil ed by the sword; they were homeless, and wore only theskins of sheep and goats; they were in want and hardship, and maltreated.
38 maltrattati de’ quali non era degno il mondo, erranti in deserti, e monti, e spelonche, e nelle grotte della terra.	38 They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves andravines.
39 E pur tutti costoro, alla cui fede la scrittura rende testimonianza, non ottennero la promessa.	39 These al won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,
40 Avendo Iddio provveduto qualche cosa di meglio per noi, acciocchè non pervenissero al compimento senza noi	40 since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfectionexcept with us.