Hebrews 11

Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.	1 Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the men of old received divine approval.	2 Because of it the ancients were well attested.
3 By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear.	3 By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts; he died, but through his faith he is still speaking.	4 By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain's. Through this he was attested to be righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts, and through this, though dead, he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God.	5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and "he was found no more because God had taken him." Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.	6 But without faith it is impossible to please him, for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith.	7 By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen, with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.	8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.	9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs of the same promise;
10 For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.	10 for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.	11 By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.
12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.	12 So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.	13 All these died in faith. They did not receive what had been promised but saw it and greeted it from afar and acknowledged themselves to be strangers and aliens on earth,
14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.	14 for those who speak thus show that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.	15 If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.	16 But now they desire a better homeland, a heavenly one. 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 was ready to offer up his only son,	17 By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son,
18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be named."	18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name."
19 He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.	19 He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.	20 By faith regarding things still to come Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.	21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and "bowed in worship, leaning on the top of his staff."
22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his burial.	22 By faith Joseph, near the end of his life, spoke of the Exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.	23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,	24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.	25 he chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin.
26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the reward.	26 He considered the reproach of the Anointed greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the recompense.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.	27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's fury, for he persevered as if seeing the one who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the first-born might not touch them.	28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.	29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.	30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies.	31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with the disobedient, for she had received the spies in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets--	32 What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions,	33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions,
34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.	34 put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life.	35 Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment.	36 Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated--	37 They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword's point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented.
38 of whom the world was not worthy-- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.	38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.
39 And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised,	39 Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised.
40 since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.	40 God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect.