Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

1 信就是所望之事的實底，是未見之事的確據。

2 This is why the ancients were commended.

2 古人在這信上得了美好的證據。

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.

3 我們因着信，就知道諸世界是藉上帝話造成的；這樣，所看見的，並不是從顯然之物造出來的。

4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

4 亞伯因着信，獻祭與上帝，比該隱所獻的更美，因此便得了稱義的見證，就是上帝指他禮物作的見證。他雖然死了，卻因這信，仍舊說話。

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see 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.

5 以諾因着信，被接去，不至於見死，人也找不着他，因為上帝已經把他接去了；只是他被接去以先，已經得了上帝喜悅他的明證。

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

6 人非有信，就不能得上帝的喜悅；因為到上帝面前來的人必須信有上帝，且信他賞賜那尋求他的人。

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

7 挪亞因着信，既蒙上帝指示他未見的事，動了敬畏的心，預備了一隻方舟，使他全家得救。因此就定了那世代的罪，自己也承受了那從信而來的義。

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

8 亞伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的時候就遵命出去，往將來要得為業的地方去；出去的時候，還不知往哪裏去。

9 By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

9 他因着信，就在所應許之地作客，好像在異地居住帳棚，與那同蒙一個應許的以撒、雅各一樣。

10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

10 因為他等候那座有根基的城，就是上帝所經營所建造的。

11 By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

11 因着信，連撒拉自己，雖然過了生育的歲數，還能懷孕，因她以為那應許她的是可信的。

12 And so from 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.

12 所以從一個彷彿已死的人就生出子孫，如同天上的星那樣眾多，海邊的沙那樣無數。

13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

13 這些人都是存着信心死的，並沒有得着所應許的；卻從遠處望見，且歡喜迎接，又承認自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。

14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

14 說這樣話的人是表明自己要找一個家鄉。

15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

15 他們若想念所離開的家鄉，還有可以回去的機會。

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.

16 他們卻羨慕一個更美的家鄉，就是在天上的。所以上帝被稱為他們的上帝，並不以為恥，因為他已經給他們預備了一座城。

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

17 亞伯拉罕因着信，被試驗的時候，就把以撒獻上；這便是那歡喜領受應許的，將自己獨生的兒子獻上。

18 even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

18 論到這兒子，曾有話說：「從以撒生的才要稱為你的後裔。」

19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

19 他以為上帝還能叫人從死裏復活；他也彷彿從死中得回他的兒子來。

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

20 以撒因着信，就指着將來的事給雅各、以掃祝福。

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.

21 雅各因着信，臨死的時候，給約瑟的兩個兒子各自祝福，扶着杖頭敬拜上帝。

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

22 約瑟因着信，臨終的時候，提到以色列族將來要出埃及，並為自己的骸骨留下遺命。

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

23 摩西生下來，他的父母見他是個俊美的孩子，就因着信，把他藏了三個月，並不怕王命。

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

24 摩西因着信，長大了就不肯稱為法老女兒之子。

25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

25 他寧可和上帝的百姓同受苦害，也不願暫時享受罪中之樂。

26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

26 他看為基督受的凌辱比埃及的財物更寶貴，因他想望所要得的賞賜。

27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

27 他因着信，就離開埃及，不怕王怒；因為他恆心忍耐，如同看見那不能看見的主。

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

28 他因着信，就守 逾越節，行灑血的禮，免得那滅長子的臨近以色列人。

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

29 他們因着信，過紅海如行乾地；埃及人試着要過去，就被吞滅了。

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

30 以色列人因着信，圍繞耶利哥城七日，城牆就倒塌了。

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

31 妓女喇合因着信，曾和和平平地接待探子，就不與那些不順從的人一同滅亡。

32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

32 我又何必再說呢？若要一一細說，基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗他、大衛、撒母耳，和眾先知的事，時候就不夠了。

33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

33 他們因着信，制伏了敵國，行了公義，得了應許，堵了獅子的口，

34 quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

34 滅了烈火的猛勢，脫了刀劍的鋒刃；軟弱變為剛強，爭戰顯出勇敢，打退外邦的全軍。

35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

35 有婦人得自己的死人復活。又有人忍受嚴刑，不肯苟且得釋放 ，為要得着更美的復活。

36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

36 又有人忍受戲弄、鞭打、捆鎖、監禁、各等的磨煉，

37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

37 被石頭打死，被鋸鋸死，受試探，被刀殺，披着綿羊、山羊的皮各處奔跑，受窮乏、患難、苦害，

38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

38 在曠野、山嶺、山洞、地穴，飄流無定，本是世界不配有的人。

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

39 這些人都是因信得了美好的證據，卻仍未得着所應許的；

40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

40 因為上帝給我們預備了更美的事，叫他們若不與我們同得，就不能完全。