Lettera agli Ebrei 11

BIBBIA CEI 2008	NEW JERUSALEM
1 La fede è fondamento di ciò che si spera e prova di ciò che non si vede.	1 Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that areunseen.
2 Per questa fede i nostri antenati sono stati approvati da Dio.	2 It is for their faith that our ancestors are acknowledged.
3 Per fede, noi sappiamo che i mondi furono formati dalla parola di Dio, sicché dall’invisibile ha preso origine il mondo 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 fede, Abele offrì a Dio un sacrificio migliore di quello di Caino e in base ad essa fu dichiarato giusto, avendo Dio attestato di gradire i suoi doni; per essa, benché 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 portato via, in modo da non vedere la morte; e non lo si trovò più, perché Dio lo aveva portato via. Infatti, prima di essere portato altrove, egli fu dichiarato persona gradita 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 Senza la fede è impossibile essergli graditi; chi infatti si avvicina a Dio, deve credere che egli esiste e che ricompensa coloro 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 fede, Noè, avvertito di cose che ancora non si vedevano, preso da sacro timore, costruì un’arca per la salvezza della sua famiglia; e per questa fede condannò il mondo e ricevette in eredità la giustizia 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, Abramo, chiamato da Dio, obbedì partendo per un luogo che doveva ricevere in eredità, e partì senza sapere dove andava.	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, egli soggiornò nella terra promessa come in una regione straniera, abitando sotto le tende, come anche Isacco e Giacobbe, coeredi della medesima 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 Egli aspettava infatti la città dalle salde fondamenta, il cui architetto e costruttore è Dio stesso.	10 He looked forward to the wel -founded city, designed and built by God.
11 Per fede, anche Sara, sebbene fuori dell’età, ricevette la possibilità di diventare madre, perché ritenne degno di fede colui che glielo aveva promesso.	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 Per questo da un uomo solo, e inoltre già segnato dalla morte, nacque una discendenza numerosa come le stelle del cielo e come la sabbia che si trova lungo la spiaggia del mare e non si può contare.	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 morirono tutti costoro, senza aver ottenuto i beni promessi, ma li videro e li salutarono solo da lontano, dichiarando di essere stranieri e pellegrini sulla 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 essere alla ricerca di una patria.	14 People who use such terms about themselves make it quite plain that they are in search of ahomeland.
15 Se avessero pensato a quella da cui erano usciti, avrebbero avuto la possibilità di ritornarvi;	15 If they had meant the country they came from, they would have had the opportunity to return to it;
16 ora invece essi aspirano a una patria migliore, cioè a quella celeste. Per questo Dio non si vergogna di essere chiamato loro Dio. Ha preparato infatti per loro 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, Abramo, messo alla prova, offrì Isacco, e proprio lui, che aveva ricevuto le promesse, offrì il suo unigenito figlio,	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 del quale era stato detto: Mediante Isacco avrai una tua discendenza.	18 and he had been told: Isaac is the one through whom your name will be carried on.
19 Egli pensava infatti che Dio è capace di far risorgere anche dai morti: per questo lo riebbe anche come simbolo.	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 anche in vista di beni futuri.	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, morente, benedisse ciascuno dei figli di Giuseppe e si prostrò, appoggiandosi sull’estremità del 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, alla fine della vita, si ricordò dell’esodo dei figli d’Israele e diede disposizioni circa le proprie 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, appena nato, fu tenuto nascosto per tre mesi dai suoi genitori, perché videro che il bambino era bello; e non ebbero paura dell’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 fede, Mosè, divenuto adulto, rifiutò di essere chiamato figlio della figlia del faraone,	24 It was by faith that, when he was grown up, Moses refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh'sdaughter
25 preferendo essere maltrattato con il popolo di Dio piuttosto che godere momentaneamente del 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 ricchezza maggiore dei tesori d’Egitto l’essere disprezzato per Cristo; aveva infatti lo sguardo fisso sulla 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 fede, egli lasciò l’Egitto, senza temere l’ira del re; infatti rimase saldo, 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 fede, egli celebrò la Pasqua e fece l’aspersione del sangue, perché colui che sterminava i primogeniti non toccasse quelli degli 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 fede, essi passarono il Mar Rosso come fosse terra asciutta. Quando gli Egiziani tentarono di farlo, vi furono inghiottiti.	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, dopo che ne avevano fatto 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 fede, Raab, la prostituta, non perì con gli increduli, perché 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 narrare di Gedeone, di Barak, di Sansone, di Iefte, di Davide, 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 per fede, essi conquistarono regni, esercitarono la giustizia, ottennero ciò che era stato promesso, chiusero le fauci 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 spensero la violenza del fuoco, sfuggirono alla lama della spada, trassero vigore dalla loro debolezza, divennero forti in guerra, respinsero invasioni di 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 Alcune donne riebbero, per risurrezione, i loro morti. Altri, poi, furono torturati, non accettando la liberazione loro offerta, 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, infine, subirono insulti e flagelli, catene e prigionia.	36 Some had to bear being pil oried and flogged, or even chained up in prison.
37 Furono lapidati, torturati, tagliati in due, furono uccisi di spada, andarono in giro coperti di pelli di pecora e di capra, bisognosi, tribolati, 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 di loro il mondo non era degno! –, vaganti per i deserti, sui monti, tra le caverne e le spelonche della terra.	38 They were too good for the world and they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves andravines.
39 Tutti costoro, pur essendo stati approvati a causa della loro fede, non ottennero ciò che era stato loro promesso:	39 These al won acknowledgement through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,
40 Dio infatti per noi aveva predisposto qualcosa di meglio, affinché essi 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.