1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. 4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. 8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment. 24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
論信心
1信心是對盼望的事有把握，對還沒看見的事很確定。 2古人因有這樣的信心而得到了讚許。 3我們憑信心知道宇宙是藉著上帝的話造成的，所以看得見的是從看不見的造出來的。
4亞伯憑信心向上帝獻祭，比該隱所獻的更美，蒙了上帝的悅納，被稱為義人。他雖然死了，卻仍然藉著信心說話。
5以諾因為信而被接到天上，沒有經歷死亡。世人找不到他，因為上帝已經把他接走了。其實他在被接之前，已經得到了肯定，是一個蒙上帝喜悅的人。 6沒有信心的人不能得到上帝的喜悅，因為來到上帝面前的人必須相信上帝存在，並相信祂會賞賜一切尋求祂的人。
7挪亞因為有信心，在上帝指示他未來要發生的事之後，就懷著敬畏的心建造方舟，來救全家的人。他藉著信心定了那個世代的罪，並承受了因信而來的義。
8亞伯拉罕因為有信心，聽到上帝的呼召後，就遵命前往他將要承受為產業的地方，但他出發的時候還不知道自己要去哪裡。 9他憑信心像異鄉人一樣寄居在上帝應許給他的地方。他住在帳篷裡，與同受一個應許的以撒和雅各一樣。 10因為他盼望的是一座有根基的城，是由上帝設計、建造的。
11撒拉過了生育年齡後憑信心仍然得到了孕育後代的能力，因為她認定賜她應許的上帝言出必行。 12所以，從一個垂暮之年的人生出許多子孫，好像天上的星、海邊的沙那麼多。
13這些人到死都滿懷信心。他們雖然沒有得到上帝所應許的，卻從遠處望見了，就歡喜快樂，承認自己在世上不過是寄居的異鄉人。 14他們抱這樣的態度，表明他們正在尋找一個家鄉。 15如果他們想念的是自己離開的家鄉，就找機會回去了。 16然而，他們渴慕的是天上更美的家鄉。所以，上帝不以被他們稱為上帝為恥，因為祂已經為他們預備了一座城。
17亞伯拉罕被試驗時憑信心把以撒獻為祭物，承受應許的亞伯拉罕當時獻上了自己的獨生子。 18論到這兒子，上帝曾說：「以撒生的才可算為你的後裔。」 19他認定上帝能使死人復活，從象徵意義上說，他也確實從死亡中得回了以撒。
20以撒憑信心指著將來的事為雅各和以掃祝福。
21雅各憑信心在臨終之時分別為約瑟的兩個兒子祝福，並拄著拐杖敬拜上帝。
22約瑟臨終之時憑信心提到以色列人將來要離開埃及，並交代要如何處理自己的骸骨。
23摩西生下來時，他父母見他長得俊美，就憑信心把他藏了三個月，不怕違抗王的命令。
24摩西長大成人後，憑信心拒絕做法老之女的兒子， 25寧願與上帝的子民一同受苦，也不肯享受一時的罪中之樂。 26在他眼中，為基督所受的凌辱遠比埃及的財富更有價值，因為他盼望的是將來的賞賜。 27他憑信心離開埃及，不怕王的憤怒。他堅忍不拔，好像看見了肉眼不能看見的主。 28他憑信心守逾越節，行灑血的禮，免得那位殺長子的傷害以色列人。
29以色列人憑信心渡過紅海，如履乾地，埃及人試圖過去，卻被海水淹沒。 30以色列人憑信心繞著耶利哥城走了七天，城牆就倒塌了。
31妓女喇合憑信心善待以色列的探子，沒有與那些不順服的人一同滅亡。
32我還要再說下去嗎？我沒有時間一一細說基甸、巴拉、參孫、耶弗特、大衛、撒母耳和眾先知的事了。 33他們憑信心戰勝了敵國，行了公義，得到了應許，堵住了獅子的口， 34熄滅了猛烈的火焰，刀下逃生，由軟弱變為剛強，作戰勇猛，擊退外敵。
35有些婦女得回了從死裡復活的親人；有些人受盡嚴刑拷打，仍不肯苟且偷生，為要得到一個復活後更美好的生命。 36有些人遭受戲弄和鞭打，還有些人遭受捆鎖和囚禁。 37他們被人用石頭打死，受威逼利誘11·37 有聖經抄本在此處無「受威逼利誘」。，被鋸成兩截，喪生刀劍之下，披著綿羊和山羊的皮四處奔跑，受盡貧乏、迫害和虐待， 38在曠野、群山、山洞和地穴中漂流不定。他們是世界不配有的！
39這些人都因信心而獲得讚許，但他們並未得到上帝的應許， 40因為上帝為我們預備了更美的，要叫他們與我們一同得到才算完美。
