Lettera agli Ebrei 11

BIBBIA TINTORI	NEW JERUSALEM
1 Or la fede è sostanza di cose sperate, e convinzione di cose che non si vedono.	1 Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that areunseen.
2 Per questa furon celebrati gli antichi.	2 It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.
3 Per mezzo della fede intendiamo come per la parola di Dio è stato formato il mondo, in maniera che dall'invisibile fosse fatto il visibile.	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 la fede Abele offerse a Dio un sacrifizio migliore di quello di Caino, e quindi fu lodato come giusto, avendo Dio approvati i doni di lui; per essa parla anche dopo morte.	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 la fede Enoc fu trasportato senza vedére la morte e non fu più trovato, perchè Dio l'aveva portato via; ma prima della sparizione fu lodato come accetto 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 Or senza fede è impossibile piacere a Dio, perchè chi s'accosta a Dio deve credere che egli esiste ed è rimuneratore di quelli che lo cercano.	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 la fede Noè, avvertito da Dio di cose che non si vedevano ancora, con pio timore preparò l'arca per salvare la sua famiglia. Colla fede condannò il mondo e divenne erede della giustizia che viene dalla 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 la fede colui che è chiamato Abramo ubbidì per andare alla terra che doveva ricevere in eredità, e parti senza sapere dove 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 la fede dimorò nella terra promessa come in terra straniera, abitando sotto delle 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 perchè aspettava quella città ben fondata, della quale Dio è architetto e costruttore.	10 He looked forward to the wel -founded city, designed and built by God.
11 Per la fede anche Sara, sebbene fosse sterile e già fuori d'età, ricevè la virtù di diventar madre, perchè credette che fosse fedele chi le aveva 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 Così da un solo (già decrepito) nacque una posterità numerosa come le stelle del cielo, come le innumerabili arene che sono lungo la spiaggia 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 Nella fede morivan tutti questi, senza aver conseguito le promesse, ma le mirarono e le salutarono da lontano, confessando « d'essere ospiti 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 Chi parla così mostra di cercare una patria.	14 People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of ahomeland.
15 Certo, se avessero avuto in mente quella da cui erano usciti, avevano il tempo di ritornarvi;	15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return to it;
16 ma essi anelavano una patria migliore: la patria celeste. Perciò Dio non si vergogna di chiamarsi loro Dio, perchè aveva loro preparato 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 la fede Abramo, messo alla prova, offerse Isacco: offriva l'unigenito, egli che aveva ricevute le promesse;	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 a cui era stato detto: «In Isacco sarà la tua discendenza »;	18 and he had been told: Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on.
19 ma sapeva che Dio può risuscitare anche da morte, dalla quale pure lo ricevette come in figura,	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 la fede Isacco diede a Giacobbe e ad Esaù la benedizione riguardante l'avvenire.	20 It was by faith that this same Isaac gave his blessing to Jacob and Esau for the stil distant future.
21 Per la fede Giacobbe, moribondo, benedisse ciascuno dei figlioli di Giuseppe e adorò la sommità dello scettro di lui.	21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, bowed in reverence, as he leanton his staff.
22 Per la fede Giuseppe, in punto di morte, parlò dell'uscita dei figlioli d'Israele e diè gli ordini riguardo 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 la fede Mosè, appena nato, fu per tre mesi tenuto nascosto dai suoi genitori, perchè avevan visto che era un bel bambino, e non si lasciarono spaventare dall'editto 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 la fede Mosè, fattosi grande, negò di esser figlio della figlia 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 scegliendo di esser maltrattato col popolo di Dio, piuttosto che gioire tempo rancamente nel peccato;	25 and chose to be ill-treated in company with God's people rather than to enjoy the transitory pleasuresof sin.
26 egli stimava l'obbrobrio di Cristo ricchezza maggiore dei tesori dell'Egitto, perchè mirava alla ricompensa.	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 la fede abbandonò l'Egitto, senza aver paura dello sdegno del re; stette infatti incrollabile come se vedesse 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 la fede celebrò la pasqua e fece l'aspersione del sangue, affinchè lo sterminatore dei primogeniti non toccasse gl'israeliti.	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 la fede passarono il Mar Rosso, come per terra asciutta, mentre gli Egiziani, che tentavano di far lo stesso, furono ingoiati.	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 la fede caddero le mura di Gerico, ripetuto il giro 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 la fede Raab, meretrice, non perì con gli increduli, perchè aveva accolto con benevolenza gli esploratori.	31 It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies and so was not killed with theunbelievers.
32 E che dirò ancora? Mi mancherebbe il tempo, se volessi raccontare di Gedeone, di Barac, di Sansone, di lette, di David, di Samuele e dei 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 la fede conquistarono i regni, praticarono la giustizia, conseguirono le promesse, turarono le gole dei 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 estinsero la violenza del fuoco, scamparono al taglio della spada, guarirono dalle malattie, diventarono prodi in guerra, misero in fuga eserciti 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 riebbero i loro morti risuscitati. Chi fu messo alla tortura, e non accettò liberazione per ottenere una risurrezione migliore;	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 chi ebbe a patire scherni e flagelli ed anche le catene e la prigione.	36 Some had to bear being pil oried and flogged, or even chained up in prison.
37 Furon lapidati, furon segati, furon sottoposti a dure prove, moriron di spada, andaron raminghi coperti di pelli di pecora o di capra, privi di tutto, angustiati, maltrattati.	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 Essì, di cui non era degno il mondo, andavano errando pei deserti, per le montagne, e nelle spelonche e caverne della terra.	38 They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves andravines.
39 Eppure tutti questi, per la te­stimonianza resa alla loro fede, non conseguirono la promessa,	39 These al won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,
40 avendo Dio disposto qualche cosa di meglio per noi, affinchè non ottenessero la perfezione senza di noi.	40 since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfectionexcept with us.