希伯來書
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

第十一章

論信心
1 信就是對所盼望的事的把握，是還沒有看見的事的明證。
2 因着這信心，古人得到了稱許。
3 因着信，我們就明白宇宙（“宇宙”或譯：“諸世界”或“眾世代”）是因着　神的話造成的。這樣，那看得見的就是從那看不見的造出來的。

信心的偉人
4 因着信，亞伯比該隱獻上更美的祭品給　神；借着這信心，他被　神稱許為義人，這是　神指着他的禮物所作的見證；他雖然死了，卻借着信仍然說話。
5 因着信，以諾被遷去了，使他不至於死，人也找不着他，因為　神把他遷去了。原來在遷去以前，他已經得了　神喜悅他的明證。
6 沒有信，就不能得到　神的喜悅；因為來到　神面前的人，必須信　神存在，並且信他會賞賜那些尋求他的人。
7 因着信，挪亞在還沒有看見的事上，得了　神的警告，就動了敬畏的心，做了一艘方舟，使他全家得救。借着這信心，他就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那因信而來的義。
8 因着信，亞伯拉罕在蒙召的時候，就聽命往他將要承受為業的地方去；他出去的時候，還不知道要往哪裡去。
9 因着信，他在應許之地寄居，好像是在異鄉，與承受同樣應許的以撒、雅各一樣住在帳棚里。
10 因為他等待那座有根基的城，就是　神所設計所建造的。
11 因着信，甚至撒拉，她雖然過了生育的年齡，還是能夠懷孕，因為她認為那應許她的是信實的。
12 所以從一個好像已死的人，竟然生出許多子孫來，仿佛天上的星那麼眾多，海邊的沙那麼無數。
13 這些人都是存着信心死了的，還沒有得着所應許的，只不過是從遠處看見，就表示歡迎，又承認他們在世上是異鄉人，是客旅。
14 因為說這樣話的人，是表明他們在尋求一個家鄉。
15 如果他們懷念已經離開了的地方，還有可以回去的機會。
16 但是現在他們所嚮往的，是一個更美的、在天上的家鄉。所以，　神不以他們稱他為　神而覺得羞恥；因為他已經為他們預備了一座城。
17 因着信，亞伯拉罕在受試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上；這就是那歡喜領受應許的人，獻上了自己的獨生子；
18 論到這個兒子，曾經有話說：“以撒生的，才可以稱為你的後裔。”
19 亞伯拉罕認定，　神能使人從死人中復活，因此，就喻意說，他的確從死里得回他的兒子。
20 因着信，以撒給雅各和以掃祝福，論到將來的事。
21 因着信，雅各臨死的時候，分別為約瑟的兒子祝福，又倚着杖頭敬拜　神。
22 因着信，約瑟臨終的時候，提到以色列子民出埃及的事，並且為自己的骸骨留下遺言。
23 因着信，摩西的父母在摩西生下來以後，因為看見孩子俊美，就把他藏了三個月，不怕王的命令。
24 因着信，摩西長大了以後，就拒絕被稱為法老女兒的兒子。
25 他寧願選擇和　神的子民一同受苦，也不肯享受罪惡中暫時的快樂。
26 在他看來，為着基督受的凌辱，比埃及的財物更寶貴，因為他注視將來的賞賜。
27 因着信，他離開了埃及，不怕王的忿怒；因為他堅定不移，就像看見了人不能看見的　神。
28 因着信，他立了逾越節和灑血的禮，免得那滅命的侵犯以色列人的長子。
29 因着信，他們走過了紅海，好像走過旱地一樣；埃及人也試着要過去，就被淹沒了。
30 因着信，耶利哥的城牆被圍繞了七天，就倒塌了。
31 因着信，妓女喇合和和平平接待了偵察的人，就沒有和那些不順從的人一起滅亡。
32 我還要再說什麼呢？如果再要述說基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳和眾先知的事，時間就不夠了。
33 他們借着信，就戰勝了敵國，伸張了正義，得到了應許，堵住了獅子的口，
34 消滅了烈火的威力，逃脫了刀劍的鋒刃，軟弱變成剛強，在戰爭中顯出大能，把外國的軍隊擊退。
35 有些婦女得回從死里復活的親人；但也有些人忍受了酷刑，不肯接受釋放，為的是要得着更美的復活。
36 又有些人遭受了戲弄、鞭打，甚至捆鎖、監禁；
37 被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，（後期抄本在此加上“受試探”）被刀殺死。他們披着綿羊山羊的皮到處奔跑、受窮乏、遭患難、被虐待；
38 原是這世界不配有的人。他們飄流無定，在曠野、山嶺、石洞和地穴棲身。
39 所有這些人都借着信得了稱許，卻還沒有得着所應許的；
40 因為　神已經為我們預備了更美的事，使他們若不跟我們在一起，就不能完全。

NIV:

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.
12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,
18 even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."
19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23 By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.
26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.
28 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 the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.