1 Faith gives substance {hypostasis: solid foundation} to what is hoped for and provides proof {elenchos: convincing proof} concerning realities not seen.
2 For in this, the elders {presbyteroi: senior witnesses} received testimony {emarturethesan: public commendation}.
3 By faith we understand that the ages {aionas: ordered world-periods} were prepared by the word of God {Theos, Creator of All}, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God {Theos, Approving Judge} a greater sacrifice than Cain. Through this he was attested to be righteous {dikaios: just before God}, God Himself testifying about his gifts. And through it, although he has died, he still speaks.
5 By faith {pistis: steadfast trust} Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death, and he was not found because God {Theos, Faithful Preserver} had taken him; for before his transfer he had been testified to as one who had pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God {Theos, Faithful Reward-Giver} must believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder {misthapodotes: generous reward giver} to those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith, Noah, having been divinely warned concerning things not yet seen, became reverent and prepared an ark {kiboton: large wooden vessel} for the salvation of his household. Through this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness {dikaiosune: right standing} that is according to faith.
8 By faith Abraham {Abraam: covenant ancestor} obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was about to receive as an inheritance {kleronomia: pledged possession}, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith {pistei: enduring trust} he sojourned {paroikesen: resident alien} in the land of the promise as in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was waiting for the city that has the foundations {themelious: permanent base}, whose architect and builder is God {Theos, Heavenly City Architect}.
11 By faith {pistei: confident trust} Sarah herself received power for the conception of seed, even beyond the proper time of age, since she considered Him {Theos, Faithful Promiser} faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore, from one man—and he was as good as dead—there were born descendants as many as the stars {astra: heavenly lights} of heaven in multitude, and as the sand {ammos: measureless grains} by the edge of the sea, the innumerable.
13 According to faith, these all died without receiving the promises, but having seen them from afar and greeted them, and having confessed that they were strangers {xenoi: resident outsiders} and sojourners on the earth {ge: physical land}.
14 For those who say {legontes: openly confessing} such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland {patrida: ancestral country}.
15 And if indeed they were remembering that country {ekeines: former homeland} from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity {kairon: favorable time} to return.
16 But now they desire a better—namely, a heavenly—country. Therefore God {Theos, Covenant Partner} is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city {polin: eternal dwelling} for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested {peirazomenos: severe trial}, offered up Isaac; and the one who had received the promises {epangelias: divine assurances} was offering up his unique son.
18 To whom it was spoken {elalethe: declared with authority}, “In Isaac your seed {sperma: promised lineage} will be called.”
19 He, having reasoned that God {Theos, Resurrection-Giving Power} is able even to raise him from the dead, from where he also received him back in a figure {parabole: symbolic representation}.
20 By faith Isaac {Isaak: Patriarch of promise} blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things that were about to happen {mellonton: future events}.
21 By faith Jacob {Iakob: faithful patriarch}, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff {rhabdos: shepherd’s rod}.
22 By faith Joseph {Ioseph: Faithful Patriarch}, as he was dying, made mention concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, and he gave instructions concerning his bones {osteon: physical remains}.
23 By faith Moses {Mouses: future deliverer}, having been born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw that the child was beautiful {asteion: specially favored}, and they were not afraid of the king’s decree.
24 By faith Moses {mouses: covenant deliverer}—when he became great—refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter {thygatros: royal offspring}.
25 Rather, choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God {Theos, Covenant People Maker} than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin {hamartias: moral failure}.
26 He regarded the reproach of Christ {Khristos, Suffering Messiah} as greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward {misthapodosia: recompense received}.
27 By faith {pistei: trusting confidence} he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing the Invisible One {aoratos: unseen reality}.
28 By faith he kept the Passover {pascha: deliverance memorial} and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer {olothreuon: executing judgment} might not touch their firstborn.
29 By faith {pistis: steadfast trust} they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land, which, when the Egyptians attempted, they were swallowed {katepothesan: consumed utterly}.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after being encircled {kyklotheis: marched around} for seven {hepta: specific counted total} days.
31 By faith {pistei: faithful trust} Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with those who disobeyed, having received the spies with peace {eirenes: reconciled safety}.
32 And what more shall I say? For time {chronos: measured duration} will fail me if I recount concerning Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and Samuel, and the prophets {propheton: inspired spokesmen}.
33 Who through faith {pisteos: trusting loyalty} conquered kingdoms, accomplished righteousness {dikaiosynen: covenant justice}, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.
34 They quenched the power of fire {pyr: consuming flames}, escaped the mouths of the sword, were strengthened from weakness, became strong in war, and put to flight the armies of foreigners {allotrios: outside nations}.
35 Women {gynaikes: bereaved women} received their dead back from resurrection {anastasis: bodily rising again}; but others were tortured, not accepting the deliverance, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 But others {heteroi: distinct believers} received the trial {peiran: severe testing} of mockings and scourgings, and yet also of bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two {epristhesan: brutally divided}, they died in the slaughter of the sword, they went about in sheepskins {melotais: rough animal cloaks}, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.
38 Of whom the world {kosmos: hostile society} was not worthy, as they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth {ge: physical land}.
39 And all these, having been commended through faith {pisteos: steadfast trust}, did not receive the promise {epangelian: divine assurance}.
40 Since God {Theos, Sovereign Planner} had provided something better concerning us, so that they might not be made perfect {teleiothosin: fully brought to completion} apart from us.