Add parallel Print Page Options

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

For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Through 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.

By 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.

By 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.

But 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 those who diligently seek Him.

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

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

By 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.

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

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

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

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

14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they are seeking a fatherland.

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

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a City.

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

18 of whom it was said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called,”

19 accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from whence he also received him, in a figurative sense.

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

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

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

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

24 By faith Moses, when he had come of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

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

26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

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

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

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, but the Egyptians, in attempting to do so, were drowned.

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

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with those who believed not, having received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah, of David also and Samuel and of the prophets,

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

34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness they were made strong, waxed valiant in battle, and turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

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

36 And others endured the trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment.

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

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

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

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

12 Therefore, seeing we also are compassed about by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him that endured such contradiction from sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

In striving against sin, ye have not yet resisted unto bloodshed.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children: “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked by Him;

for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.”

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all arepartakers, then ye are bastards and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence. Shall we not far rather be in subjection unto the Father of Spirits, and live?

10 For verily they chastened us for a few days according to their own pleasure, but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto those who are exercised thereby.

12 Therefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way, but let it rather be healed.

14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord,

15 looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up to trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected; for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

18 For ye have not come unto the mount which might be touched and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness and darkness and tempest,

19 and the sound of a trumpet and the voice of words, which voice those who heard entreated that the Word should not be spoken to them any more.

20 (For they could not endure that which was commanded, that: “if even so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with a dart.”

21 And so terrible was the sight that Moses said, “I fear exceedingly and quake.”)

22 But ye have come unto Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, who are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

24 and to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

25 See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh, for if they escaped not who refused Him that spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him that speaketh from Heaven,

26 whose voice then shook the earth. But now He hath promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.”

27 And these words, “yet once more,” signifieth the removing of those things which can be shaken, such as things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

28 Therefore, we receiving a Kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear.

29 For our God is a consuming fire.

13 Let brotherly love continue.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Remember those who are in bonds as though you were bound with them, and thse who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

Let your manner of living be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have. For He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”;

so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

Remember those who have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God. Follow their faith, considering the outcome of their manner of living.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace, not with meats which have not profited those who have been occupied therewith.

10 We have an altar from which they have no right to eat, who serve the tabernacle.

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp.

12 Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

13 Let us go forth therefore unto Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach.

14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

15 By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey those who have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they keep watch over your souls as ones who must give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you.

18 Pray for us, for we trust we have a good conscience in all things, willing to live honestly.

19 But I beseech you the more earnestly to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

20 Now the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

21 make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation, for I have written this letter unto you with few words.

23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty, with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you.

24 Salute all those who have the rule over you, and all the saints. Those from Italy salute you.

25 Grace be with you all. Amen.