Faith That Produces Action
1Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being sure of what we do not see. 2That is what the people of long ago were praised for.
3We have faith. So we understand that everything was made when God commanded it. That’s why we believe that what we see was not made out of what could be seen.
4Abel had faith. So he brought to God a better offering than Cain did. Because of his faith Abel was praised as a godly man. God said good things about his offerings. Because of his faith Abel still speaks. He speaks even though he is dead.
5Enoch had faith. So he was taken from this life. He didn’t die. “He couldn’t be found, because God had taken him away.” (Genesis 5:24) Before God took him, Enoch was praised as one who pleased God. 6Without faith it is impossible to please God. Those who come to God must believe that he exists. And they must believe that he rewards those who look to him.
7Noah had faith. So he built an ark to save his family. He built it because of his great respect for God. God had warned him about things that could not yet be seen. Because of his faith Noah showed the world that it was guilty. Because of his faith he was considered right with God.
8Abraham had faith. So he obeyed God. God called him to go to a place he would later receive as his own. So he went. He did it even though he didn’t know where he was going. 9Because of his faith he made his home in the land God had promised him. Abraham was like an outsider in a strange country. He lived there in tents. So did Isaac and Jacob. They received the same promise he did. 10Abraham was looking forward to the city that has foundations. He was waiting for the city that God planned and built. 11And Sarah had faith. So God made it possible for her to become a mother. She became a mother even though she was too old to have children. But Sarah believed that the God who made the promise was faithful. 12Abraham was past the time when he could have children. But many children came from that one man. They were as many as the stars in the sky. They were as many as the grains of sand on the seashore. No one could count them.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They didn’t receive the things God had promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from a long way off. They openly said that they were outsiders and strangers on earth. 14People who say things like that show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15What if they had been thinking of the country they had left? Then they could have returned to it. 16Instead, they longed for a better country. They wanted a heavenly one. So God is pleased when they call him their God. In fact, he has prepared a city for them.
17Abraham had faith. So when God tested him, Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham had held on tightly to the promises. But he was about to offer his one and only son. 18God had said to him, “Your family line will continue through Isaac.” (Genesis 21:12) Even so, Abraham was going to offer him up. 19Abraham did this, because he believed that God could even raise the dead. In a way, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20Isaac had faith. So he blessed Jacob and Esau. He told them what was ahead for them.
21Jacob had faith. So he blessed each of Joseph’s sons. He blessed them when he was dying. Because of his faith he worshiped God. Jacob worshiped as he leaned on the top of his walking stick.
22Joseph had faith. So he spoke to the people of Israel about how they would leave Egypt someday. When his death was near, he spoke about where to bury his bones.
23Moses’ parents had faith. So they hid him for three months after he was born. They saw he was a special child. They were not afraid of the king’s command.
24Moses had faith. So he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. That happened after he had grown up. 25He chose to be treated badly together with the people of God. He chose not to enjoy sin’s pleasures. They only last for a short time. 26He suffered shame because of Christ. He thought it had great value. Moses considered it better than the riches of Egypt. He was looking ahead to his reward. 27Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. It wasn’t because he was afraid of the king’s anger. He didn’t let anything stop him. That’s because he saw the God who can’t be seen. 28Because of his faith, Moses was the first to keep the Passover Feast. He commanded the people of Israel to sprinkle blood on their doorways. He did it so that the destroying angel would not touch their oldest sons.
29The people of Israel had faith. So they passed through the Red Sea. They went through it as if it were dry land. The Egyptians tried to do it also. But they drowned.
30Israel’s army had faith. So the walls of Jericho fell down. It happened after they had marched around the city for seven days.
31Rahab, the prostitute, had faith. So she welcomed the spies. That’s why she wasn’t killed with those who didn’t obey God.
32What more can I say? I don’t have time to tell about all the others. I don’t have time to talk about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah. I don’t have time to tell about David and Samuel and the prophets. 33Because of their faith they took over kingdoms. They ruled fairly. They received the blessings God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions. 34They put out great fires. They escaped being killed by swords. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became powerful in battle. They beat back armies from other countries. 35Women received back their dead. The dead were raised to life again. There were others who were made to suffer greatly. But they refused to be set free. They did this so that after death they would be raised to an even better life. 36Some were made fun of and even whipped. Some were held by chains. Some were put in prison. 37Some were killed with stones. Some were sawed in two. Some were killed by swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats. They were poor. They were attacked. They were treated badly. 38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains. They lived in caves. They lived in holes in the ground.
39All these people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised. 40That’s because God had planned something better for us. So they would only be made perfect together with us.
Nípa ìgbàgbọ́
1Ǹjẹ́ ìgbàgbọ́ ní ìdánilójú ohun tí o ń retí, ìjẹ́rìí ohun tí a kò rí. 2Nítorí nínú rẹ ni àwọn alàgbà àtijọ́ ní ẹ̀rí rere.
3Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni a mọ̀ pé a ti dá ayé nípa ọ̀rọ̀ Ọlọ́run; nítorí náà kì í ṣe ohun tí o hàn ni a fi dá ohun tí a ń ri.
411.4: Gẹ 4.3-10.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ní Abeli rú ẹbọ sí Ọlọ́run tí ó sàn ju ti Kaini lọ, nípa èyí tí a jẹ́rìí rẹ̀ pe olódodo ni, Ọlọ́run sí ń jẹ́rìí ẹ̀bùn rẹ̀: Àti nípa rẹ̀ náà, bí o ti jẹ́ pé o ti kú, síbẹ̀ o ń fọhùn.
511.5: Gẹ 5.21-24.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni a ṣí Enoku ní ipò padà kí o má ṣe rí ikú; a kò sì rí i mọ́, nítorí Ọlọ́run ṣí i ní ipò padà: nítorí ṣáájú ìṣípò padà rẹ̀, a jẹ́rìí yìí sí i pé o wu Ọlọ́run. 6Ṣùgbọ́n láìsí ìgbàgbọ́ kò ṣe é ṣe láti wù ú; nítorí ẹni tí ó bá ń tọ Ọlọ́run wá kò lè ṣàì gbàgbọ́ pé ó ń bẹ, àti pé òun ní olùṣẹ̀san fún àwọn tí o fi ara balẹ̀ wá a.
711.7: Gẹ 6.13-22.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Noa, nígbà ti Ọlọ́run, kìlọ̀ ohun tí a kóò tí ì rí fún un, o bẹ̀rù Ọlọ́run ó sì kan ọkọ̀ fún ìgbàlà ilé rẹ̀, nípa èyí tí ó da ayé lẹ́bi, ó sì di ajogún òdodo tí i ṣe nípa ìgbàgbọ́.
811.8-9: Gẹ 12.1-8.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ní Abrahamu, nígbà tí a ti pé e láti jáde lọ sí ibi tí òun yóò gbà fún ilẹ̀ ìní, ó gbọ́, ó sì jáde lọ, láì mọ ibi tí òun ń rè. 9Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ní o ṣe àtìpó ní ilẹ̀ ìlérí, bí ẹni pé ni ilẹ̀ àjèjì, o ń gbé inú àgọ́, pẹ̀lú Isaaki àti Jakọbu, àwọn ajogún ìlérí kan náà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀: 10Nítorí tí ó ń retí ìlú tí ó ní ìpìlẹ̀; èyí tí Ọlọ́run tẹ̀dó tí ó sì kọ́. 1111.11: Gẹ 17.19; 18.11-14; 21.2.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Sara tìkára rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú fi gba agbára láti lóyún, nígbà tí ó kọjá ìgbà rẹ̀, nítorí tí o ka ẹni tí o ṣe ìlérí sí olóòótọ́. 1211.12: Gẹ 15.5-6; 22.17; 32.12.Nítorí náà ni ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ ṣe ti ara ọkùnrin kan jáde, àní ara ẹni tí o dàbí òkú, ọmọ bí ìràwọ̀ ojú ọ̀run lọ́pọ̀lọpọ̀, àti bí iyanrìn etí Òkun láìníye.
1311.13: Sm 39.12; Gẹ 23.4.Gbogbo àwọn wọ̀nyí ni ó kú nínú ìgbàgbọ́, láìrí àwọn ìlérí náà gbà, ṣùgbọ́n tí wọn rí wọn ni òkèrè réré, tí wọ́n sì gbá wọn mú, tí wọ́n sì jẹ́wọ́ pé àlejò àti àjèjì ni àwọn lórí ilẹ̀ ayé. 14Nítorí pé àwọn tí o ń sọ irú ohun bẹ́ẹ̀ fihàn gbangba pé, wọn ń ṣe àfẹ́rí ìlú kan tí i ṣe tiwọn. 15Àti nítòótọ́, ìbá ṣe pé wọ́n fi ìlú tiwọn tí jáde wá sí ọkàn, wọn ìbá ti rí ààyè padà. 1611.16: El 3.6,15; 4.5.Ṣùgbọ́n nísinsin yìí wọ́n ń fẹ́ ìlú kan tí o dára jù bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ, èyí yìí ni ti ọ̀run: nítorí náà ojú wọn kò ti Ọlọ́run, pé kí a máa pé òun ni Ọlọ́run wọn; nítorí tí o ti pèsè ìlú kan sílẹ̀ fún wọn.
1711.17: Gẹ 22.1-10.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Abrahamu, nígbà tí a dán an wò láti, fi Isaaki rú ẹbọ: àní òun ẹni tí ó rí ìlérí gba múra tan láti fi ọmọ bíbí rẹ kan ṣoṣo rú ẹbọ. 1811.18: Gẹ 21.12.Nípa ẹni tí wí pé, “Nínú Isaaki ni a ó ti pe irú-ọmọ rẹ̀:” 19Ó sì rò ó si pé Ọlọ́run tilẹ̀ lè gbé e dìde kúrò nínú òkú, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni, bí a bá sọ ọ́ lọ́nà àpẹẹrẹ, ó gbà á padà.
2011.20: Gẹ 27.27-29,39-40.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ní Isaaki súre fún Jakọbu àti Esau ní ti ohun tí ń bọ̀.
2111.21: Gẹ 48; 47.31.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Jakọbu, nígbà tí o ń ku lọ, ó súre fún àwọn ọmọ Josẹfu ni ọ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan; ó sì sinmi ní ìtẹríba lé orí ọ̀pá rẹ̀.
2211.22: Gẹ 50.24-25; Ek 13.19.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Josẹfu, nígbà tí ó ń ku lọ, ó rántí ìjáde lọ àwọn ọmọ Israẹli; ó sì pàṣẹ ní ti àwọn egungun rẹ̀.
2311.23: Ek 2.2; 1.22.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ní àwọn òbí Mose pa a mọ́ fún oṣù mẹ́ta nígbà tí a bí i, nítorí tiwọn rí i ní arẹwà ọmọ; wọn kò sì bẹ̀rù àṣẹ ọba.
2411.24: Ek 2.10,11-15.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Mose, nígbà tí o dàgbà, ó kọ̀ ki a máa pé òun ni ọmọ ọmọbìnrin Farao; 25o kúkú yàn láti máa ba àwọn ènìyàn Ọlọ́run jìyà, ju jíjẹ fàájì ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ fún ìgbà díẹ̀. 26Ó ka ẹ̀gàn Kristi si ọrọ̀ tí ó pọ̀jù àwọn ìṣúra Ejibiti lọ: Nítorí tí ó ń wo èrè náà. 2711.27: Ek 2.15.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni o kọ Ejibiti sílẹ̀ láìbẹ̀rù ìbínú ọba: nítorí tí o dúró ṣinṣin bí ẹni tí ó n ri ẹni àìrí. 2811.28: Ek 12.21-28,29-30.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni ó da àsè ìrékọjá sílẹ̀, àti ìbùwọ́n ẹ̀jẹ̀, kí ẹni tí ń pa àwọn àkọ́bí ọmọ má bá a fi ọwọ́ kan wọn.
2911.29: Ek 14.21-31.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni wọn la Òkun pupa kọjá bi ẹni pé ni ìyàngbẹ ilẹ̀: ti àwọn ara Ejibiti dánwò, tí wọ́n sì ri.
3011.30: Jo 6.12-21.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni àwọn odi Jeriko wo lulẹ̀, lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí a yí wọn ká ni ọjọ́ méje.
3111.31: Jo 2.1-21; 6.22-25.Nípa ìgbàgbọ́ ni Rahabu panṣágà kò ṣègbé pẹ̀lú àwọn tí kò gbọ́rọ̀ nígbà tí o tẹ́wọ́gbà àwọn ààmì ní àlàáfíà.
3211.32: On 6–8; 4–5; 13–16; 11–12; 1Sa 16–30; 2Sa 1–24; 1Ọb 1.1–2.11; 1Sa 1–12; 15.1–16.13.Èwo ni èmi o sì tún máa wí sí i? Nítorí pé ìgbà yóò kùnà fún mi láti sọ ti Gideoni, àti Baraki, àti Samsoni, àti Jefta; àti Dafidi, àti Samuẹli, àti ti àwọn wòlíì: 3311.33: Da 6.Àwọn ẹni nípasẹ̀ ìgbàgbọ́ tiwọn ṣẹ́gun ilẹ̀ ọba, tí wọn ṣiṣẹ́ òdodo, tiwọn gba ìlérí, tiwọn dí àwọn kìnnìún lénu, 3411.34: Da 3.Tí wọ́n pa agbára iná, tí wọ́n bọ́ lọ́wọ́ ojú idà, tí a sọ di alágbára nínú àìlera, tí wọ́n dí akọni nínú ìjà, wọ́n lé ogun àwọn àjèjì sá. 3511.35: 1Ọb 17.17-24; 2Ọb 4.25-37.Àwọn obìnrin ri òkú wọn gbà nípa àjíǹde: a sì da àwọn ẹlòmíràn lóró, wọ́n kọ̀ láti gba ìdásílẹ̀; kí wọn ba lè rí àjíǹde tí o dára jù gbà; 36Àwọn ẹlòmíràn sì rí ìjìyà ẹ̀sín, àti nínà, àti ju bẹ́ẹ̀ lọ, ti ìdè àti ti túbú: 37A sọ wọ́n ni òkúta, a fi ayùn rẹ́ wọn sì méjì, a dán wọn wò a fi idà pa wọn: wọ́n rìn káàkiri nínú awọ àgùntàn àti nínú awọ ewúrẹ́; wọn di aláìní, olùpọ́njú, ẹni tí a ń da lóró; 38Àwọn ẹni tí ayé ko yẹ fún: Wọ́n ń kiri nínú aṣálẹ̀, àti lórí òkè, àti nínú ihò àti nínú abẹ́ ilẹ̀.
39Gbogbo àwọn wọ̀nyí tí a jẹ́rìí rere sí nípa ìgbàgbọ́, wọn kò sì rí ìlérí náà gbà: 40Nítorí Ọlọ́run ti pèsè ohun tí ó dára jù sílẹ̀ fún wa, pé láìsí wa, kí a má ṣe wọn pé.
