The Great Faith of God's People
1 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see. 2 It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.
3 Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.
4 Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.
5 Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. This is why his body was never found. 6 But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.
7 Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.
8 Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9 Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. 10 Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city God had planned and built.
11 Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. 12 Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore.
13 Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. 14 When people talk this way, it is clear they are looking for a place to call their own. 15 If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. 16 But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. This is why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
17-18 Abraham had been promised that Isaac, his only son, would continue his family. But when Abraham was tested, he had faith and was willing to sacrifice Isaac, 19 because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.
20 Isaac had faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau. 21 Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons. 22 And right before Joseph died, he had faith that God would lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. So he told them to take his bones with them.
23 Because Moses' parents had faith, they kept him hidden until he was three months old. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's orders. 24 Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. 25 He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. 26 Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah, and he looked forward to his reward.
27 Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. 28 His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.
29 Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Sea on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.
30 God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.
31 Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.
32 What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions 34 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 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 Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. 37 Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. 38 The 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.
39 All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. 40 This 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.
Ṯǝmminǝ ṯir min-min.
1 Ṯǝmminǝ ṯindǝr-ṯǝ ṯǝṯi ruusi ṯǝkkizǝ ṯǝri kizǝ rerrem, nǝ ǝṯɔŋw firllasi nyuŋwsi-lǝ ethaarɔŋw, kwomne kwiti kwǝṯi iijini mac, kwundǝr-ṯǝ kwir rerrem. 2 Nǝṯǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯǝvrinyjǝ lizi lǝthi kerreny-ŋwɔ mindaŋ na-li Allah aamina. 3 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝr elŋe ethaarɔŋw ṯurmun ṯigiṯṯina ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi Allah, ŋgwa kwiijinǝ kwǝni kwɔdaɽiminna kwomne-gi kwiti kwǝṯi iijini mac.
4 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ Haabiil keṯṯice Allah kiraama kithǝmthi kiraama-la kǝthi Gaayiin. Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ-thi nɔŋw ǝgini yiriny yisaaw kaka kwizi kwirllalɔ. Kaka nǝmminicǝ-gwɔ Allah haḏaaya wuuŋwun. Nǝ ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi ṯǝmminǝ ṯuuŋwun nɔŋwtǝni kwandindisa kinnǝni kirem, nǝ ŋundu-tǝ kwɔmǝ ai. 5 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ Allah dimmǝ Akhnuukh-ŋwɔ mindaŋ nɔŋweere ai mac nǝ nɔŋweere inḏini mac, kaka mǝgwɔ Allah dimmǝ. Nǝ kiṯaab aarɔŋw, niti nidimminǝ Akhnuukh kinnǝni mac, nɔŋwɔni kwǝmǝ Allah-na. 6 Kwiti kweere mac kwǝthi ŋɔma ethi ǝmi Allah-na kwiira ṯǝmminǝ-nǝ. Kaka mǝ kweere nyithak iila naanɔ-gwɔ Allah tǝ, laazim ŋwɔthi ṯǝmminǝ ethaarɔŋw Allah wɔ wɔnaani, nǝ ǝṯɔnwsi inḏǝthǝ ɔjra kila lǝṯi naŋni ŋunduŋw-lɔ. 7 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Nuuh-ŋwɔ ethi niŋnaci Allah naalɔ-ŋgwɔ kwomne-gi ŋgwa kwinḏi ethiila kwiti kwǝṯi iijini mac. Mindaŋ nɔŋw niŋnithici Allah, e-ta nɔŋw daɽimatha mɔrkǝbǝ kwumǝ kilǝthi ŋunduŋwsi dɔɔnɔ-ŋgana kwuuŋwun. Nǝrṯoroŋw mindaŋ nǝ ṯurmun kettine kaṯṯi, mindaŋ nǝ Nuuh aavi ŋirllalɔ ṯǝmminǝ-thi naanɔ-gwɔ Allah.
8 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Ibraahiim-ŋwɔ ethi niŋnithici Allah kinaŋw nɔrnɔṯɔŋw ethi ruu etheele ki-bǝlǝḏ kwǝccǝŋw-ŋgi wa@ḏa. Nɔŋw ɔrlacci bǝlǝḏǝ kwuuŋwun ŋwɔdoŋw, nɔŋwteele nyithak kwiti kwilŋica ǝzir mac wiilathɔ-ŋgwɔ. 9 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nɔŋw nanni kaka kwɔthimthina ki-bǝlǝḏ-nǝ ŋgwa kwǝccǝ-gi Allah ŋunduŋw wa@ḏa. Nɔŋw nanni ki-yeeme-na, kaka-ṯǝ ŋa ŋimǝsi Is-haaŋ-ŋǝ Ya@guub-gi ǝrri, kaka nǝnir-gwɔṯǝ limǝ aavi wa@ḏa wa wette-wette naanɔ-gwɔ Allah. 10 Kaka nǝkkicǝ-gwɔ Ibraahiim mǝḏiinv kizǝn ŋgwa kwugwuurucǝ Allah rɔgwagiza nǝ kwaccaŋw ki-rɔgwagiza-la rǝṯi nannatha dok-dok. 11 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ Saara ǝthi ŋɔma etheethe niṯamthathɔŋw-va kinnǝni tok keereny ŋimǝyǝŋ-ŋi. Kaka nǝmminǝ-gwɔ Allah ethaarɔŋw winḏi ethi ṯimmasi wa@ḏa kworo wuuŋwun. 12 Nɔŋw elŋe nyɔɔrɔ nyittǝzir naanɔ-gwɔ kwɔr kwɔmǝ ǝdithici ŋiɽany, nyuuru nyir kaka rɔɔrɔm rǝthi leere, nǝ nyittǝzir nyaaɽinna ramla rǝṯi naani bahara kǝni.
13 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ lizi kɔlɔ tatap ai. Nǝreere kaṯṯasi kwomne mac ŋgwa kwǝccǝsi-gi Allah wa@ḏa, laakin nǝreese kwomne-ŋgwa kinǝŋgwu tuk mindaŋ nǝr aalanni, na nǝr elŋece rogɽo reeŋen ethaarɔŋw nyiiŋǝ lirta lithimthina liirǝrǝlɔ domony kɔnɔŋw kwurǝyulu. 14 Lizi lǝṯi andindasi-ṯǝŋw, nǝr elŋethine-lɔ por-por linaŋna bǝlǝḏǝ-lɔ kwǝthi rogɽo reeŋen. 15 Ǝŋgir aari fǝkirǝ ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi wurǝyu wa wumǝr ṯayyalɔ, ǝŋgir-ṯǝ kaṯṯasi ṯaay rac ethaaɽi. 16 Laakin ki-lɔɔbi lǝthisi-li ǝrri ŋɔ tǝ, nǝrǝthi sɔɔrɔma kwǝthi bǝlǝḏ kwɔvthanna kwuthǝmthi kwǝthi ki-leere-naŋw. Ŋwɔṯaŋw nǝ ṯɔrony ere mithǝ Allah mac kaka mǝr-gwɔ ruusi ŋunduŋw Allah weeŋen, kaka mɔŋwsi-gwɔ daɽimaci mǝḏiinǝ kwette.
17 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ, Ibraahiim-ŋwɔ kinaŋw mǝr ṯǝcci, nɔŋw inḏǝṯhǝ Allah Is-haag-ŋwɔ kaka kiraama, nǝ Ibraahiim oro kwette rac kwǝccǝ Allah wa@ḏa, laakin nɔŋw tǝ ǝmmini ethi kette tɔɔrɔ tuuŋwun tɔtɔpɔt ethoro kiraama. 18 Nǝ Allah ǝccǝŋw, “Is-haag-ŋgi a ǝthi ŋwɔɔla ŋwa ŋwɔccǝŋǝ-ŋi wa@ḏa.” 19 Nǝ Ibraahiim ǝmmini elhaarɔŋw Allah wǝthi ŋɔma ethi dindǝ lizi ki-ŋiɽany-na, ŋwɔṯaŋw mindaŋ nɔŋw-mǝ diiɽica Is-haag-ŋwɔ ki-ŋiɽany-na, ŋir mǝthǝl. 20 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ Is-haag andaci Ya@guub-ŋwɔsi @iisɔ-gi ŋiɽaŋali ŋǝthi barka kwinḏisi ethisi iilicǝ. 21 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Ya@guub-ŋwɔ kinaŋw naadithi-ŋgwɔ ethi ai, nɔŋwɔccǝ nyɔɔrɔ nyǝthi Yuusuf baarika. Nɔŋw ṯɔgdannila ṯɔɔthi mindaŋ nɔŋw kwocce Allah-lɔ. 22 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Yuusuf-ŋwɔ kinaŋw mɔŋw aadithi ethi ai, nɔŋw andasi ŋiɽaŋali ŋinḏi-ŋi kwelle kwǝthi Israa-iil ethi ruuthǝ Mɔsir-na, mindaŋ nɔŋwsi ṯayici niizaamalɔ kwǝthi aanatha aŋna wuuŋwun.
23 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ ṯǝrnyin ṯǝthi Muusǝ-ŋǝ lǝnyin-gi ethi lucci ŋunduŋw kinaŋw mɔŋworo yǝwǝ ṯoɽol yilŋithir-yi. Kaka niisar-gwɔ tɔɔrɔ ṯisaaw ŋisanna, mindaŋ nǝreere ṯeenye waamira wǝthi mǝlik mac. 24 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Muusǝ-ŋw kinaŋw mɔŋw peŋe, nɔŋw derne ethoro tɔr ṯǝthi tɔr tir tiira tǝthi Fir@awn. 25 Nɔŋw ǝmmini ethi inḏa ṯurvǝ lizi-li lǝthi Allah ki-lɔɔbi lǝthi-li nyeŋlena ṯinyiŋla-thina ṯǝthi ŋikiya. 26 Nɔŋw ruusi ṯurvǝ ṯǝthi fǝthiyǝ kwǝni Kwɔrɔstɔ kwɔvthanna beṯṯen ethi ŋɔrṯɔla tatap ŋǝthi Mɔsir-ŋwɔ, kaka niccasa-ŋgwɔ ɔjra kithaay winḏi ethiila. 27 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Muusǝ-ŋwɔ ethi ṯayya Mɔsir-ŋwɔlɔ kwiti kwithiinya urǝziŋw ṯɔgwori kwǝthi mǝlik mac. Nɔŋwɔni kwɔgwɔrmɔṯanna kaka niisa-ŋgwɔ Allah witi wǝṯi iijini mac, mindaŋ nɔŋw derne ḏuṯ ethaaɽi. 28 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ ŋunduŋw ethi daɽimatha Fis-ha, mindaŋ nɔŋw ree ŋwɔbaaba ŋin-ŋi, mindaŋ nǝ meleka kwǝthi ŋiɽany ere ɽeenye nyɔɔrɔ nyir ŋwɔɽa mac nyǝthi lizi lǝthi Israa-iil.
29 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ lizi lǝthi Israa-iil ethi dappi Bahar El-ahmar-gila kaka ǝṯireele ki-wurǝyu-lǝ wɔnḏɔ, laakin mǝ Mɔsiriyyiin ṯǝcci ethisi ǝrri ŋɔ tok tǝ, nǝsi ŋaaw ǝnyji dip. 30 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ ŋweṯṯeya ŋwɔthi Ariiha-ŋw nǝr irdidi kinaŋw mǝ kwelle kwǝthi Israa-iil rikkanni yaaŋwɔnɔ dɔvokwoɽɔny ǝzir-yi. 31 Nǝ ṯǝmminǝ oro ṯuduŋgwǝcǝ Raahaab-ŋwɔ kwir kwiijin etheere ai mac lizi-li kila lǝṯi uɽi yǝninǝ, kaka naalina-ŋgwɔ lizi kila lɔɔsarsi ŋejmethi.
32 Nyii kwɔtǝ andisasa ŋiɽaŋali ŋɔ keereny dɔṯṯɔk-ga? Laakin lɔɔmɔr lende linḏi ethi naani ethisi andasi ŋǝthi Jiḏ@awn, Baaraag, Shamshuun, Yafṯaah, Ḏaawḏ, nǝ Samwiil-ŋǝ liɽii-li. 33 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝr ṯɔgthi Iibǝlǝḏ-li tatap mindaŋ nǝrsi ṯiinyi. Nǝrsi ǝrri ŋirllalɔ mindaŋ nǝraavi ŋgwa kwǝccǝsi-gi Allah wa@ḏa. Nǝr kwuɽubǝthǝ ruunyu rǝthi lɔsɔndaŋa, 34 nǝr iɽinyatha iigǝŋi wɔppa, nǝr kilatha ŋiɽany ŋǝthi kaalala kiiranna. Nǝr ajli, laakin nǝr-tǝ firllathala. Nǝr ferlle ki-ŋǝryǝ-nǝ tetter mindaŋ nǝr ṯiinyi jesha kwuthimthina. 35 Ṯǝmminǝ-thi nǝ laaw ǝɽinnǝ lizi leeŋen laayɔ mǝrsi-gwɔ diiɽǝ ki-ŋiɽany-na. Lithaathɔ nǝr derne ethi kǝdinnǝ ethoro hɔrr, nǝr inḏa ṯurvǝ, e-ta ethi-mǝ diiɽǝ ŋimiitha-ŋi ŋɔvthanna beṯṯen ethi ŋa-la. 36 Lithaathɔ nǝrsi ǝrrǝlɔŋw nǝrsi inḏǝthǝ jǝlḏǝ, nǝ lithaathɔ nǝrsi kǝkki ŋwɔɔɽɔŋw-ŋi mindaŋ nǝrsi iili ki-sijin-nǝ. 37 Nǝrsi accathalɔ yall-yi, lithaathɔ nǝrsi undǝthǝnǝ dǝk-dǝk. Nǝrsi ɽeenye lithaathɔ yaalala-yi. Nǝr irǝrǝlɔ ŋɔwaaya liŋinna liforwǝ lǝthi yaaŋal-ŋa yiiɽɔ-yi. Nǝrsi bii ṯurvǝ lǝwɽǝrsi yǝy. 38 Nǝsi ṯurmun ere ɔvthannici ḏuṯ! Nǝr irǝrǝlɔ lɔthɔɔthɔ ki-sahraa-na, ki-yaayin-la, nǝr nanni ki-yibaŋ-na nǝ ki-ruu-nǝ tok.
39 Ŋa tatap ŋǝrrǝsi lizi kɔlɔ, nǝr-ŋi ǝgini ṯiiɽǝnǝ ṯeeŋen ṯǝmminǝ-thi! Laakin nǝreere kaṯṯasi ŋgwa mac kwǝccǝsi-gi Allah wa@ḏa, 40 kaka nigittathica-nyji-gwɔ Allah kwomne-gi kwɔvthanna beṯṯen, ŋǝniŋw liti linḏi ethoro min-min mac illi mǝr-li ɔɽɔmaṯṯi nyiiŋǝ dɔŋw tatap.