(avg. read time: 20–41 mins.)
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence [hapax] of things not seen.
11:2 Indeed by this the elders have testified.
11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds/ages were ordered/prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen has not come to be from things that are visible.
11:4 By faith Abel offered a greater/better sacrifice than Cain to God, through which he was testified to be righteous, thus God testifies about his gifts, and, despite being dead, through his faith he still speaks.
11:5 By faith Enoch was taken up in order that he should not see death, and “he was not found because God took him up,” for before his translation/taking up [only in Hebrews] he had been testified to be pleasing [only in Hebrews] to God,
11:6 since without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to God, for it is necessary for those who approach God to have faith/believe that he is and that he is the rewarder [hapax] of those who seek him.
11:7 By faith Noah, having been warned about what was not yet [hapax] seen, and being fearful of God [hapax] he constructed the ark for the salvation of his house, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to leave the place that he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he left not knowing where he was going.
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the promised land as a foreigner, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob as fellow heirs of the same promises;
11:10 for he waited for/expected the city having foundations, for which God is the builder and artisan [hapax].
11:11 By faith—and Sarah herself was barren—he received power for procreation [lit. sowing of seed] even though he was beyond the time of virility, since he considered the one who promised to be faithful;
11:12 Therefore also from one others were born—and this one as good as dead—as the stars of heaven in number and as innumerable as the sand on the seashore.
11:13 All of these ones died in/according to faith, having/despite not received/ing the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them, and confessing that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth,
11:14 for those who speak in such ways make clear that they are seeking a native land/fatherland.
11:15 If that which was remembered was what they left behind [hapax], they would have had a chance/time to return,
11:16 but now they aspire for a better land, that is a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them.
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, had offered up Isaac, even his one and only/unique son this one who had received the promises was ready to offer up,
11:18 to whom it was said that, “By Isaac descendants will be named for you,”
11:19 because he reasoned that God is able even to raise from the dead, from which also, in a prefigure/figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
11:20 By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the things about to be.
11:21 By faith when Jacob was dying he blessed each of Joseph’s sons while he leaned on the head of his staff.
11:22 By faith Joseph, when he was coming to an end, made remembrance of/remembered the exodus of the children of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
11:23 By faith Moses, three months [hapax] after he was born, was hidden by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they did not fear the edict [hapax] of the king.
11:24 By faith Moses, when he had become great/grown, refused to speak as son of the daughter of Pharaoh,
11:25 choosing instead to suffer together [hapax] with the people of God than to have the transitory enjoyment of sin
11:26 because he considered greater riches than those of Egypt the treasures of reproach of/for Christ [of the anointed], for he was looking for [hapax] that reward [only in Hebrews].
11:27 By faith he left Egypt, not because he feared the wrath/anger of the king, for the invisible one was as one he saw continually [hapax].
11:28 By faith he had kept the Passover and the sprinkling/pouring [hapax] of blood, in order that the destroyer [hapax] of the firstborn should not touch them.
11:29 By faith they passed through the Sea of Reeds/Red Sea as on dry ground, but when the Egyptians attempted [only in Hebrews] they received drowning.
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they were circled for seven days.
11:31 By faith Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with [hapax] the disobedient/disbelieving, after she received the spies [hapax] with peace.
11:32 And what more should I say? For time would fail [hapax] me to tell/relate about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David as well as Samuel and the prophets,
11:33 those who through faith subdued [hapax] kingdoms, accomplished/performed righteousness/justice, attained promises, shut/stopped the mouths of lions,
11:34 quenched powerful fire, escaped the edges of swords, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in war, turned foreign armies to flight;
11:35 women received back their children by resurrection/raising from the dead, while others were tortured while not receiving deliverance/redemption, in order that they might obtain a better/greater resurrection;
11:36 while others received trials [only in Hebrews] of mocking [hapax] and lashings, and even bonds and imprisonment;
11:37 they were stoned, sawed in half, murdered by the sword [lit. killed by the murder of a sword], went around in sheepskin [hapax], in skins [hapax] of goats [hapax], because/so that they were lacking, afflicted/oppressed, and tormented [only in Hebrews],
11:38 of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered about in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the earth/ground.
11:39 And all of these, despite what is testified by their faith, did not receive the promise,
11:40 since God had made provision [hapax/foresight in active], in order that they should not be completed without us.
12:1 Therefore, since we have such a cloud [hapax] of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside/cast off every impediment/burden [hapax] and the sin that so easily distracts [hapax], let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
12:2 by fixing our eyes on Jesus the pioneer and perfecter/completer [hapax] of faith, who for the sake of the joy set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, he has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
12:3 Now consider him who endured such hostility against himself by sinners, in order that you should not grow weary with your lives by losing heart.