Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Contemporary English Version

²⁹^(A) Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Sea^[a] on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.

³⁰^(B) God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.

³¹^(C) Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.

³²^(D) What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. ³³^(E) Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions ³⁴^(F) and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.

³⁵^(G) Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. ³⁶^(H) Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. ³⁷^(I) Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two^[b] or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. ³⁸The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. ⁴⁰This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.

A Large Crowd of Witnesses

12 ^(J) Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won't let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. ²^(K) We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because he knew later on he would be glad he did. Now he is seated at the right side^[c] of God's throne!

Footnotes

11.29 Red Sea: This name comes from the Bible of the early Christians, a translation made into Greek about 200 b.c. It refers to the body of water that the Israelites crossed and was one of the marshes or fresh water lakes near the eastern part of the Nile Delta, where they lived and where the towns of Exodus 13.17—14.9 were located.
11.37 sawed in two: Some manuscripts have “tested” or “tempted.”
12.2 right side: See the note at 1.3.