Hebrews 11

Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 Ref Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the sign that the things not seen are true.

2 Ref For by it our fathers had God's approval.

3 Ref By faith it is clear to us that the order of events was fixed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made from things which only seem to be.

4 Ref By faith Abel made a better offering to God than Cain, and he had witness through it of his righteousness, God giving his approval of his offering: and his voice still comes to us through it though he is dead.

5 Ref By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven so that he did not see death; he was seen no longer, for God took him away: for before he was taken, witness had been given that he was well-pleasing to God:

6 Ref And without faith it is not possible to be well-pleasing to him, for it is necessary for anyone who comes to God to have the belief that God is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who make a serious search for him.

7 Ref By faith Noah, being moved by the fear of God, made ready an ark for the salvation of his family, because God had given him news of things which were not seen at the time; and through it the world was judged by him, and he got for his heritage the righteousness which is by faith.

8 Ref By faith Abraham did as God said when he was ordered to go out into a place which was to be given to him as a heritage, and went out without knowledge of where he was going.

9 Ref By faith he was a wanderer in the land of the agreement, as in a strange land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had a part with him in the same heritage:

10 Ref For he was looking for the strong town, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Ref And by faith Sarah herself had power to give birth, when she was very old, because she had faith in him who gave his word;

12 Ref So that from one man, who was near to death, came children in number as the stars in heaven, or as the sand by the seaside, which may not be numbered.

13 Ref All these came to their end in faith, not having had the heritage; but having seen it with delight far away, they gave witness that they were wanderers and not of the earth.

14 Ref For those who say such things make it clear that they are searching for a country for themselves.

15 Ref And truly if they had kept in mind the country from which they went out, they would have had chances of turning back.

16 Ref But now their desire is for a better country, that is to say, for one in heaven; and so it is no shame to God to be named their God; for he has made ready a town for them.

17 Ref By faith Abraham made an offering of Isaac, when he was tested: and he with whom the agreement had been made gave up as an offering the only son of his body,

18 Ref Of whom it had been said, From Isaac will your seed take their name:

19 Ref Judging that God was able to give life even to the dead; and because of this he did get him back as if from death.

20 Ref By faith Isaac, blessing Jacob and Esau, gave news of things to come.

21 Ref By faith Jacob gave a blessing to the two sons of Joseph, when he was near to death; and gave God worship, supported by his stick.

22 Ref By faith Joseph, when his end was near, said that the children of Israel would go out of Egypt; and gave orders about his bones.

23 Ref By faith Moses was kept secretly by his father and mother for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a fair child; and they had no fear of the king's orders.

24 Ref By faith Moses, when he became a man, had no desire to be named the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Ref Feeling that it was better to undergo pain with the people of God, than for a short time to have a taste of the pleasures of sin;

26 Ref Judging a part in the shame of Christ to be better than all the wealth of Egypt; for he was looking forward to his reward.

27 Ref By faith he went out of Egypt, not being turned from his purpose by fear of the wrath of the king; for he kept on his way, as seeing him who is unseen.

28 Ref By faith he kept the Passover, and put the sign of the blood on the houses, so that the angel of destruction might not put their oldest sons to death.

29 Ref By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it had been dry land, though the Egyptians were overcome by the water when they made an attempt to do the same.

30 Ref By faith the walls of Jericho came down, after they had been circled for seven days.

31 Ref By faith Rahab, the loose woman, was not put to death with those who had gone against God's orders, because she had taken into her house in peace those sent to see the land.

32 Ref What more am I to say? For there would not be time to give the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets:

33 Ref Who through faith overcame kingdoms, did righteousness, got their reward, kept the mouths of lions shut,

34 Ref Put out the power of fire, got safely away from the edge of the sword, were made strong when they had been feeble, became full of power in war, and put to flight the armies of the nations.

35 Ref Women had their dead given back to them living; others let themselves be cruelly attacked, having no desire to go free, so that they might have a better life to come;

36 Ref And others were tested by being laughed at or by blows, and even with chains and prisons:

37 Ref They were stoned, they were cut up with knives, they were tested, they were put to death with the sword, they went about in sheepskins and in goatskins; being poor and in pain and cruelly attacked,

38 Ref Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough.

39 Ref And not one of these got the good things of the agreement, though they all had a good record through faith,

40 Ref Because God had kept some better thing for us, so that it was not possible for them to become complete without us.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref Now faith is assurance of `things' hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

2 Ref For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

3 Ref By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.

4 Ref By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 Ref By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:

6 Ref And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing `unto him'; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and `that' he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.

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

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

9 Ref By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a `land' not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

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

11 Ref By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

12 Ref wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, `so many' as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.

13 Ref These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 Ref For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.

15 Ref And if indeed they had been mindful of that `country' from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

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

17 Ref By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten `son';

18 Ref even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Ref accounting that God `is' able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

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

21 Ref By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, `leaning' upon the top of his staff.

22 Ref By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

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

24 Ref By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Ref choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Ref accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.

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

28 Ref By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

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

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

31 Ref By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

32 Ref And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:

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

34 Ref quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.

35 Ref Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

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

37 Ref they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 Ref (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 Ref And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

40 Ref God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

2 Ref For by this, the elders obtained testimony.

3 Ref By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible.

4 Ref By faith, Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.

5 Ref By faith, Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because God translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God.

6 Ref Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him.

7 Ref By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

8 Ref By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.

9 Ref By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.

10 Ref For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Ref By faith, even Sarah herself received power to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised.

12 Ref Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.

13 Ref These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen{TR adds "and being convinced of"} them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 Ref For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own.

15 Ref If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.

16 Ref But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 Ref By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;

18 Ref even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;"

19 Ref accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.

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

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

22 Ref By faith, Joseph, when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23 Ref By faith, Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 Ref By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

25 Ref choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;

26 Ref accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

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

28 Ref By faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

29 Ref By faith, they passed through the Red sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.

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

31 Ref By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.

32 Ref What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets;

33 Ref who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Ref quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of aliens.

35 Ref Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36 Ref Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.

37 Ref They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated

38 Ref (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 Ref These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise,

40 Ref God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

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