MODERN LITERAL VERSION

11:1 Now faith is the essence of things hoped for, a conviction of matters not seen.
11:2 For* the elders was witnessed in this;
11:3 in faith, we perceive that the ages have been framed by the declaration of God, toward the things seen, not having become from things which appear.
11:4 In faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice to God than Cain, through which he was witnessed to be righteous, God testifying in regard to his gifts and through it he still speaks, although being dead.
11:5 In faith Enoch was transferred, not to see death, and he was not found, because God transferred him; for* it had been testified of him to be well pleasing to God before his transfer.
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to God; for* it is essential for the one who comes to God to believe that he is and that he becomes a rewarder to those who are seeking him out.
11:7 In faith Noah, being divinely-warned concerning things not yet seen, being scared, prepared an ark *for the salvation of his house; through which he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
11:8 In faith Abraham, obeyed* when he was called to go out to the place which he was about to receive *for an inheritance, and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
11:9 In faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as an alien, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint heirs with him of the same promise.
11:10 For* he waited for the city which has the foundations, whose craftsman and contractor is God.
11:11 In faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed and bore a son beyond the time of her fertile age*, since she deemed him faithful who had promised.
11:12 And hence from one sterile man, these were born descendants just-as the stars of heaven in a multitude and as innumerable as the sand beside the sea shore .

11:13 These all died according to faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and having been persuaded of them and having greeted them from farther out and having confessed that they were strangers and travelers upon the earth.
11:14 For* those who are saying such things disclose that they are seeking after a fatherland of their own.
11:15 And if they indeed were remembering that country from which they went out, they might have had opportunity to revisit.
11:16 But now they are aspiring for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hence God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for* he has prepared a city for them.

11:17 In faith Abraham, being tested, had offered up Isaac. And he who had accepted the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
11:18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac your seed will be called. {Gen. 21:12}
11:19 Reasoning that God is able to raise even him up from the dead; from where he did also get him back in a figure.
11:20 In faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, concerning future things.
11:21 In faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, resting upon the tip of his staff.
11:22 In faith Joseph, when he was almost dead*, made mention concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel, and commanded them concerning his bones.

11:23 In faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a handsome child, and they were not afraid of the king's command.
11:24 In faith Moses, having become great, denied to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
11:25 having selected for himself to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have temporary enjoyment of sin.
11:26 He was deeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for* he was looking toward the reward.
11:27 In faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for* he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible.
11:28 In faith he had made* the Passover and the splashing of the blood on the door frames, in order that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
11:29 In faith they crossed over the Red Sea as if through dry land; from which the Egyptians taking an attempt were swallowed up.

11:30 In faith the walls of Jericho fell down, having been surrounded for seven days.
11:31 In faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, having accepted the spies with peace.

11:32 And what more should I say? For* the time will fail me if I describe the things concerning Gideon, Barak, and also Samson and Jephthah; both David and Samuel and the prophets:
11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, sealed the mouths of lions,
11:34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were empowered from weakness, became mighty in war, the encampments of aliens bowed down.
11:35 Women received back their dead from a resurrection. But others were tortured, not accepting their redemption; that* they might obtain a better resurrection,
11:36 and others received a trial from mocking and scourges, but even more, from bonds and prison:
11:37 they were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were tempted; they were murdered with the sword; they went around in sheepskins, in goat hides; they were lacking, afflicted, and mistreated,
11:38 (of whom the world was not worthy), made to wander in the wildernesses and mountains and caves and the holes of the earth.
11:39 And all these, having been {F} testified of through the faith, did not get the promise
11:40 God having foreseen something better concerning us, that* they should not be perfected separate from us.
{Footnotes: Heb 11:39 OR: witnessed to through their faith.}