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.
Veliki primjeri vjere
1Vjera je čvrsto pouzdanje da će se dogoditi ono čemu se nadamo; ona je dokaz stvarnosti koju ne vidimo. 2Vjerom su naši praoci postignuli da ih Bog pohvali.
3Vjerom znamo da je sve što postoji stvoreno Božjom zapovijedi, da je stvoreno iz nevidljivoga.
4Vjerom je Abel prinio Bogu bolju žrtvu nego Kain. Bog je prihvatio Abelovu žrtvu kako bi pokazao da je on pravedan čovjek. Tako nam Abel, iako odavno mrtav, još govori zbog svoje vjere.
5Zbog svoje vjere Henok je prenesen u nebo a da nije iskusio smrti; “nestao je jer ga je Bog uzeo”.11:5 Postanak 5:24. Ali prije nego što je prenesen primio je svjedočanstvo da je ugodio Bogu. 6Bogu ne možete nikada udovoljiti bez vjere. Tko želi doći k Bogu, mora vjerovati da Bog postoji i da nagrađuje one koji ga iskreno traže.
7Vjerom je Noa izgradio korablju da svoju obitelj spasi od potopa. Poslušao je Boga koji ga je upozorio da će se zbiti ono što se nikada prije nije dogodilo. Vjerom je osudio ostali svijet i stekao pravednost pred Bogom.
8Vjerom je Abraham poslušao Boga kad ga je pozvao da ostavi dom i ode u drugu zemlju koju mu je Bog dao u baštinu. Otišao je ne znajući kamo ide. 9Čak i kad je stigao u zemlju koju mu je Bog obećao, i ondje je živio po vjeri—jer bio je poput tuđinca i živio je pod šatorom, skupa s Izakom i Jakovom kojima je Bog dao isto obećanje. 10Jer iščekivao je grad s vječnim temeljima, kojega je Bog graditelj i tvorac. 11Vjerom je i Sara s Abrahamom mogla začeti dijete unatoč svojoj poodmakloj dobi i unatoč tomu što nije mogla imati djece. Abraham je vjerovao da će Bog održati obećanje.11:11 U nekim rukopisima: Sara je vjerovala da će Bog održati obećanje. 12Tako je od jednog Abrahama, prestara da ima djecu, nastao narod brojan poput zvijezda na nebu i neizbrojiva pijeska na morskoj obali.
13Svi su ti ljudi u vjeri umrli a da nisu primili što im je Bog obećao, već su to vidjeli samo izdaleka i prihvatili priznajući da su na zemlji tuđinci i pridošlice. 14A tko za sebe tako kaže, očito čezne za domovinom. 15Da su mislili na zemlju iz koje su došli, mogli su se u nju vratiti. 16Ali oni su se radovali boljemu mjestu, nebeskoj domovini. Zato se Bog ne srami nazvati njihovim Bogom. Pripravio im je nebeski grad.
17Vjerom je Abraham prinio Izaka kao žrtvu kad ga je Bog kušao. Taj Abraham, koji je već imao Božja obećanja, bio je spreman žrtvovati vlastitog sina, Izaka. 18Bog mu je obećao: “Po Izaku će ti se nazivati potomstvo.”11:18 Postanak 21:12. 19Vjerovao je da Bog može Izaka, ako i umre, oživjeti. To se donekle i dogodilo jer je Izak za Abrahama bio osuđen na smrt, ali je oživio.
20Vjerom je Izak blagoslovio dvojicu svojih sinova, Jakova i Ezava, pouzdajući se u Boga glede budućnosti.
21Vjerom je i Jakov, već star i na umoru, blagoslovio obojicu Josipovih sinova te se poklonio Bogu oslanjajući se na štap.
22Vjerom je i Josip na samrti s pouzdanjem govorio o tomu kako će Bog izvesti izraelski narod iz Egipta te zapovjedio da ponesu sa sobom i njegove kosti.
23Vjerom su Mojsija roditelji, kad se rodio, skrivali tri mjeseca. Vidjeli su da im je Bog dao lijepo djetešce i nisu se bojali kraljeve naredbe.
24Vjerom je Mojsije, kad je već odrastao, odbio zvati se sinom faraonove kćeri. 25Radije je odabrao da bude zlostavljan skupa s Božjim narodom nego da uživa u prolaznim zadovoljstvima grijeha. 26Vrednijim od egipatskog blaga smatrao je trpjeti sramotu zbog obećanoga Krista jer je gledao na nagradu koju će dobiti od Boga. 27Vjerom je Mojsije otišao iz Egipta ne bojeći se kraljeva bijesa, postojano kao da pred sobom gleda nevidljivoga Boga. 28Vjerom je zapovjedio izraelskome narodu da svetkuje pashalnu večeru i da poprska dovratke janjećom krvlju kako im Zatornik ne bi poubijao prvorođenu djecu.
29Vjerom je izraelski narod prošao kroz Crveno more kao po suhu tlu, a Egipćani su se utopili kad su to pokušali.
30Vjerom izraelskog naroda koji je sedam dana ophodio Jerihon pale su njegove zidine.
31Vjerom je bludnica Rahaba preživjela u tome gradu i nije poginula s nevjernicima jer je lijepo primila uhode.
32Što još reći? Predugo bi trajalo da vam potanko pričam o Gideonu, Baraku, Samsonu, Jefti, Davidu, Samuelu i prorocima. 33Ti su ljudi vjerom u Boga osvajali kraljevstva, pravedno vladali i primili što im je Bog obećao. Zatvorili su lavovima ralje, 34ugasili žestinu ognja, izbjegli smrtonosnoj oštrici mača. Oporavili su se od slabosti, ojačali u boju i nagnali u bijeg tuđinske vojske. 35Neke su žene zbog uskrsnuća ponovno zadobile svoje pokojne.
Druge su pak vjernike mučili, ali su oni radije umrli nego da se odreknu Boga pa da ih oslobode. Pouzdavali su se da će uskrsnuti u bolji život. 36Nekima su se izrugivali i bičevali ih, okivali ih i bacali u tamnice. 37Neke su kamenovali, neke prepilili napola, neke ubili mačem. Neki su hodali obučeni u ovčje i kozje kožuhe. Bili su gladni, potlačeni i zlostavljani. 38Svijet ih nije bio dostojan. Lutali su pustinjom i planinama, skrivali se u špiljama i jamama.
39Svi su ti ljudi stekli Božju naklonost zbog svoje vjere, a nitko od njih nije primio ono što im je Bog obećao. 40Jer Bog nam je svima namijenio bolje. Oni će postignuti savršenstvo, ali tek skupa s nama.
