Hebrews 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

1Faith means being sure of what we hope for. It means being certain of things we cannot see.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

2Long ago, people trusted God like that. Because of it, God said good things about them.

3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

3Because we trust God, we understand how everything was made. God spoke, and it was there. What we see was not made out of things we can see.

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

4Abel trusted God. So he gave God a better gift than his brother Cain gave. God accepted his gift and said Abel was right and good. Abel died long ago, but his trust still speaks to us.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

5Enoch trusted God. So God took him away, and he never died. People could not find him, because God had taken him. Before that, God said Enoch pleased him.

Note"Translated" is an old English word here. It means Enoch was taken away by God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

6Without faith, no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that God is real. They must believe he rewards people who truly look for him.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

7Noah trusted God. God warned him about a flood that no one could see yet. With deep respect for God, Noah built a big boat to save his family. What he did showed that the rest of the world was wrong. God called Noah right and good because he trusted.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

8Abraham trusted God. God told him to leave home and go to a land God would give him. Abraham obeyed and went. He did not even know where he was going.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

9Abraham trusted God and lived in that promised land like a visitor. He lived in tents. Isaac and Jacob lived in tents too. God had made them the same promise.

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

10Abraham was waiting for a city with strong foundations. God is the one who planned it and built it.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

11Sarah trusted God too. She was much too old to have a baby. But God gave her the strength, and her son was born. She believed God would keep his promise.

12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

12So one very old man, who seemed as good as dead, got a huge family. They grew to be as many as the stars in the sky. They were like the sand on the beach, too many to count.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

13All these people trusted God until the day they died. They never got the things God had promised. But they saw them far ahead and were glad. They said they were only visitors and travelers on the earth.

14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

14People who talk that way show they are looking for a home of their own.

15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

15If they had kept thinking about the country they left, they could have gone back.

16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

16Instead they wanted a better country, one in heaven. So God is glad to be called their God. He has a city ready for them.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

17Abraham trusted God when God tested him. He was ready to give Isaac back to God. God had made Abraham big promises. Even so, he was willing to give up his only son.

18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

18God had told him, "Your family will be counted through Isaac."

19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

19Abraham believed God could even bring the dead back to life. And in a way, he did get Isaac back from death.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

20Isaac trusted God. He blessed Jacob and Esau about things that were still to come.

21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

21Jacob trusted God. When he was dying, he blessed both of Joseph's sons. He leaned on the top of his walking stick and worshiped God.

22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

22Joseph trusted God. When he was near death, he spoke about Israel leaving Egypt one day. He gave orders about what to do with his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

23Moses' parents trusted God. After he was born, they hid him for three months. They saw he was a fine child. They were not afraid of the king's order.

24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

24Moses trusted God. When he grew up, he said no to being called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Pharaoh was the king of Egypt.

25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

25He chose to suffer hard things along with God's people. He said no to the fun of sin, which does not last.

26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

26He believed that being shamed for Christ was worth more than all the riches of Egypt. He was looking ahead to the reward God would give him.

27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

27Moses trusted God and left Egypt. He was not afraid of the king's anger. He kept going, because he saw God, who cannot be seen.

28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

28Moses trusted God and kept the Passover. He had blood sprinkled on the doorways. Then the one who killed the oldest sons did not touch Israel's sons.

NoteThe Passover was the night God rescued Israel from Egypt. Families put lamb's blood on their doorways, and everyone inside stayed safe.

29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

29The people trusted God and walked through the Red Sea on dry ground. The Egyptians tried to do the same thing, and they drowned.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

30God's people trusted him and marched around Jericho for seven days. Then the walls of the city fell down.

31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

31Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. She trusted God and welcomed Israel's spies kindly. So she was not killed with the people who would not obey God.

NoteThe old word "harlot" means a prostitute, a woman who was paid by men for sex.

32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

32What else can I say? There is not enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah. There is not time for David, Samuel, and the prophets, people who told others what God said.

33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

33They trusted God. They won wars against kingdoms. They ruled in a fair way. They received things God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions.

34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

34They put out raging fires. They got away from swords. They were weak, and God made them strong. They grew brave in battle and chased enemy armies away.

35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

35Some women got their dead loved ones back alive again. Others were hurt on purpose and would not take a way out. They wanted a better life when God raises the dead.

36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

36Others were laughed at and whipped. Some were tied with chains and locked in prison.

37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

37Some were killed with stones. Some were cut in two. Some were tested. Some were killed with swords. Some wore sheep skins and goat skins. They had nothing, and people were cruel to them.

38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

38The world was not good enough for these people. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They lived in caves and holes in the ground.

39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

39God was pleased with all of them because they trusted him. Even so, they did not get what he promised.

40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

40God had planned something better for us. He wanted them to be made complete together with us.