Common English Bible CEB
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Faith is the reality of what we hope for, the proof of what we don't see.
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Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 The elders in the past were approved because they showed faith.
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Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
3 By faith we understand that the universe has been created by a word from God so that the visible came into existence from the invisible.
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By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4 By faith Abel offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain, which showed that he was righteous, since God gave approval to him for his gift. Though he died, he's still speaking through faith.
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By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain's. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he didn't see death, and he wasn't found because God took him up. He was given approval for having pleased God before he was taken up.
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By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and "he was not found, because God had taken him." For it was attested before he was taken away that "he had pleased God."
6 It's impossible to please God without faith because the one who draws near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards people who try to find him.
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And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7 By faith Noah responded with godly fear when he was warned about events he hadn't seen yet. He built an ark to deliver his household. With his faith, he criticized the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes from faith.
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By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going.
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By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he lived in the land he had been promised as a stranger. He lived in tents along with Isaac and Jacob, who were coheirs of the same promise.
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By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 He was looking forward to a city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
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For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith even Sarah received the ability to have a child, though she herself was barren and past the age for having children, because she believed that the one who promised was faithful.
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By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.
12 So descendants were born from one man (and he was as good as dead). They were as many as the number of the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore.
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Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."
13 All of these people died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw the promises from a distance and welcomed them. They confessed that they were strangers and immigrants on earth.
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All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,
14 People who say this kind of thing make it clear that they are looking for a homeland.
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for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return to it.
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If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But at this point in time, they are longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God isn't ashamed to be called their God—he has prepared a city for them.
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But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham offered Isaac when he was tested. The one who received the promises was offering his only son.
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By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,
18 He had been told concerning him, Your legitimate descendants will come from Isaac.
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of whom he had been told, "It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you."
19 He figured that God could even raise him from the dead. So in a way he did receive him back from the dead.
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He considered the fact that God is able even to raise someone from the dead—and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
20 By faith Isaac also blessed Jacob and Esau concerning their future.
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By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau.
21 By faith Jacob blessed each of Joseph's sons as he was dying and bowed in worship over the head of his staff.
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By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, "bowing in worship over the top of his staff."
22 By faith Joseph recalled the exodus of the Israelites at the end of his life, and gave instructions about burying his bones.
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By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his burial.
23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and they weren't afraid of the king's orders.
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By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter when he was grown up.
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By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the temporary pleasures of sin.
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choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 He thought that the abuses he suffered for Christ were more valuable than the treasures of Egypt, since he was looking forward to the reward.
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He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt without being afraid of the king's anger. He kept on going as if he could see what is invisible.
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By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king's anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible.
28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, in order that the destroyer could not touch their firstborn children.
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By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29 By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned.
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By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.
30 By faith Jericho's walls fell after the people marched around them for seven days.
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By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute wasn't killed with the disobedient because she welcomed the spies in peace.
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By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32 What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
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And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
33 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions,
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who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies.
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quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection.
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Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.
36 But others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison.
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Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered with swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy, oppressed, and mistreated.
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They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—
38 The world didn't deserve them. They wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground.
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of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these people didn't receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith.
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Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 God provided something better for us so they wouldn't be made perfect without us.
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since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.