Hebrews 11

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not apparent.	1 Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that areunseen.
2 For this reason, the ancients were given testimony.	2 It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.
3 By faith, we understand the world to be fashioned by the Word of God, so that the visible might be made by the invisible.	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 By faith, Abel offered to God a much better sacrifice than that of Cain, through which he obtained testimony that he was just, in that God offered testimony to his gifts. And through that sacrifice, he still speaks to us, though he is dead.	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 By faith, Enoch was transferred, so that he would not see death, and he was not found because God had transferred him. For before he was transferred, he had testimony that he pleased God.	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 But without faith, it is impossible to please God. For whoever approaches God must believe that he exists, and that he rewards those who seek him.	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 By faith, Noah, having accepted an answer about those things which were not yet seen, being afraid, fashioned an ark for the salvation of his house. Through the ark, he condemned the world, and was established as the heir of the justice that occurs through faith.	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 By faith, the one called Abraham obeyed, going out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.	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 By faith, he stayed in the Land of the Promise as if in a foreign land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise.	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 For he was awaiting a city having firm foundations, whose designer and builder is God.	10 He looked forward to the wel -founded city, designed and built by God.
11 By faith also, Sarah herself, being barren, received the ability to conceive offspring, even though she was past that age in life. For she believed him to be faithful, who had promised.	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 Because of this, there were also born, from one who himself was as if dead, a mulititude like the stars of heaven, who are, like the sand of the seashore, innumerable.	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 All of these passed away, adhering to faith, not having received the promises, yet beholding them from afar and saluting them, and confessing themselves to be sojourners and guests upon the earth.	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 For those who speak in this way are themselves indicating that they seek a homeland.	14 People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of ahomeland.
15 And if, indeed, they had been mindful of the very place from which they departed, they certainly would have returned in time.	15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return to it;
16 But now they hunger for a better place, that is, Heaven. For this reason, God is not ashamed to be called their God. For he has prepared a city for them.	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 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac, so that he who had received the promises was offering up his only son.	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 To him, it was said, “Through Isaac, shall your offspring be summoned,”	18 and he had been told: Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on.
19 indicating that God is even able to raise up from the dead. And thus, he also established him as a parable.	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 By faith, also, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future events.	20 It was by faith that this same Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob and Esau for the stil distant future.
21 By faith, Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and he reverenced the summit of his rod.	21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, bowed in reverence, as he leanton his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, as he was dying, recalled the departure of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones.	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 By faith, Moses, after being born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they had seen that he was a graceful infant, and they did not fear the king’s edict.	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 By faith, Moses, after growing up, denied himself a place as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,	24 It was by faith that, when he was grown up, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh'sdaughter
25 choosing to be afflicted with the people of God, rather than to have the pleasantness of sin for a time,	25 and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than to enjoy the transitory pleasuresof sin.
26 valuing the reproach of Christ to be a greater wealth than the treasures of the Egyptians. For he looked forward to his reward.	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 By faith, he abandoned Egypt, not dreading the animosity of the king. For he pressed on, as if seeing him who is unseen.	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 By faith, he celebrated the Passover and the shedding of the blood, so that he who destroyed the firstborn might not touch them.	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 By faith, they crossed the Red Sea, as if on dry land, yet when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up.	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 By faith, the walls of Jericho collapsed, after being encircled for seven days.	30 It was through faith that the wal s of Jericho fel down when the people had marched round them forseven days.
31 By faith, Rahab, the harlot, did not perish with the unbelievers, after receiving the spies with peace.	31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies and so was not killed with theunbelievers.
32 And what should I say next? For time is not sufficient for me to give an account of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the Prophets:	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 those who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, accomplished justice, obtained promises, closed the mouths of lions,	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 extinguished the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, showed strength in battle, turned back the armies of foreigners.	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 Women received their dead by means of resurrection. But others suffered severe punishment, not yet receiving redemption, so that they would find a better resurrection.	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 Truly, others were tested by mocking and lashes, and moreover by chains and imprisonment.	36 Some had to bear being pil oried and flogged, or even chained up in prison.
37 They were stoned; they were cut; they were tempted. With the slaughter of the sword, they were killed. They wandered about in sheepskin and in goatskin, in dire need, in anguish afflicted.	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 Of them, the world was not worthy, wandering in solitude on mountains, in the caves and caverns of the earth.	38 They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves andravines.
39 And all these, having been proven by the testimony of faith, did not receive the Promise.	39 These al won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,
40 God’s Providence holds something better for us, so that not without us would they be perfected.	40 since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfectionexcept with us.