Hebrews 11 new living translation

Here is the book of Hebrews 11 in the New Living Translation (NLT):

Hebrews 11:1-40

Faith's Hall of Fame

1 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.

2 It was by faith that our ancestors received the promises they were looking forward to, the promises that God had made to them. He promised them they would enter a land flowing with milk and honey.

3 They were tested, and they proved themselves worthy. They received the promises because they were strong and brave.

4 It was by faith that they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; they shut the mouths of lions, 5 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength; they became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

6 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

7 Others were mocked, whipped, and chained, but they were still happy. They were treated so badly they died, but they still kept on trusting God.

8 Some were made to wander in the deserts, where they found no city to live in. Others were caught and put in prison, and they were stoned, or they were sawed in two, or they were killed with swords. They wore the skins of sheep and goats, and they wandered around in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

9 And all these people were commended for their faith, even though they did not receive all that God had promised them. 10 They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it and were glad, and they acknowledged that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.

11 People who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 12 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 13 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.

14 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed the call to set out for a place he would later receive as his inheritance, and he went without knowing where he was going.

15 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

16 He looked ahead to the city that has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

17 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to bear a child, because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.

18 And so from this 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.

19 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

20 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.

21 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 22 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.

23 By faith Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 24 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.

25 He regarded abuse suffered at the hands of the Egyptians as more valuable than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

26 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

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

28 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but the Egyptians were drowned in the sea.

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

30 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

31 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 32 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 33 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.

34 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.

35 Others were mocked, whipped, and chained, but they were still happy. They were treated so badly they died, but they still kept on trusting God.

36 Some were made to wander in the deserts, where they found no city to live in. Others were caught and put in prison, and they were stoned, or they were sawed in two, or they were killed with swords. They wore the skins of sheep and goats, and they wandered around in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

37 This is the kind of life all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus must face persecution and suffering.

38 Though they suffer like this, they are not to blame. 39 They are suffering for you. They are suffering for the sake of God's chosen people, who are precious to him.

40 But remember, dear brothers and sisters, that in the past God allowed the people to become enemies of the good news about Christ, even though they knew about God's world.