Original Douay Rheims Bible (1582 & 1610)

The Epistle of Saint Pavl the Apostle to the Hebrews

He exhorteth them by the definition of faith, to sticke vnto God, though they see not yet his reward: shewing that al the Saints afore-time did the like, being al constant in faith, though not one of them receiued the promise, that is, the inheritance in heauen: but they and we now after the comming of Christ receiue it together.
1. AND faith is, the substance of things to be hoped for, the argument of things not appearing.
2. For in this the old men obtained testimonie.
3. By faith, we vnderstand that the worlds were framed by the word of God: that of inuisible things visible things might be made.
4. By faith, Abel offered a greater host to God then Cain: by which he obtained testimonie that he was iust, God giuing testimonie to his guifts, and by it, he being dead, yet speaketh.
5. By faith Henoch was translated, that he should not see death, and he was not found: because God translated him. For before his translation he had testimonie that he pleased God.
6. But withouth faith it is impossible to please God. For he that commeth to God, must beleeue that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seeke him.
7. By faith, Noe hauing receiued an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, fearing, framed the arke for the sauing of his house, by the which he condemned the world: and was instituted heire of the iustice which is by faith.
8. By faith, he that is called, Abraham, obeied to goe forth into the place which he was to receiue for inheritance: and he went forth, not knowing whither he went.
9. By faith, he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in cottages with Isaac & Iacob the coheires of the same of promise.
10. For he expected the citie that hath foundations: whose artificer and maker is God.
11. By faith, Sara also her self being barren, receiued vertue in conceauing of seed, yea past the time of age: because she beleeued that he was faithful which had promised.
12. For the which cause euen of one (and him quite dead) there rose as the starres of heauen in multitude, and as the sand that is by the sea shore innumerable.
13. According to faith died al these, not hauing receiued the promises, but beholding them a farre off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrimes & strangers vpon the earth.
14. For they that say these things, doe signifie that they seeke a countrie.
15. And indeed if they had been mindful of the same from whence they came forth, they had time verily to returne.
16. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heauenly. Therfore God is not confounded to be called their God. For he hath prepared them a citie.
17. By faith, Abraham offered Isaac, when he was tempted: and his onlie-begotten did he offer who had receiued the promises:
18. (to whom it was said, That in Isaac shal seed be called to thee.)
19. accounting that God is able to raise vp euen from the dead. Whereupon he receiued him also for a parable.
20. By faith, also of things to come, Isaac blessed Iacob and Esau.
21. By faith, Iacob dying, blessed euery one of the sonnes of Ioseph: and adored the top of his rod.
22. By faith, Iospeh dying, made mention of the going forth of the children of Israel: and gaue commandement concerning his bones.
23. By faith, Moyses being borne, was hid three moneths by his parents: because they saw him a proper infant, and they feared not the Kings edict.
24. By faith, Moyses being made great, denied himself to be the sonne of Pharao's daughter:
25. rather chosing to be afflicted with the people of God, then to haue the pleasure of temporal sinne,
26. esteeming the reproche of Christ, greater riches then the treasure of the Ægyptians. For he looked vnto the remuneration.
27. By faith, he left Ægypt: not fearing the fiercenes of the King. For him that is inuisible he susteined as if he had seen him.
28. By faith, he celebrated the Pasche, & the sheading of the bloud: that he which destroyed the first-borne, might not touch them.
29. By faith they passed the red sea as it were by the drie land: which the Ægyptians assaying, were deuoured.
30. By faith the walles of Iericho fel downe, by the circuiting of seuen daies.
31. By faith, Rahab the harlot perished not with the incredulous, receiuing the spies with peace.
32. And what shal I yet say? For the time wil faile me telling of Gedeon, Barac, Sampson, Iephte, Dauid, Samuel, & the Prophets:
33. who by faith ouercame Kingdoms, wrought iustice, obteined promises, stopped the mouths of Lions,
34. extinguished the force of fire, repelled the edge of the sword, recouered of their infirmitie, were made strong in battel, turned away the camp of forrainers:
35. women receiued of resurrection their dead, and others were racked, not accepting redemption, that they might find a better resurrection.
36. And others had trial of mokeries and stripes, moreouer also of bands and prisons:
37. they were stoned, they were hewed, they were tempted, they died in the slaughter of the sword, they went about in sheep-skinnes, in goats skinnes, needy, in distresse, afflicted:
38. of whom the world was not worthie; wandering in deserts, in mountaines & dennes, and in caues of the earth.
39. And al these being approued by the testimonie of faith, receiued not the promise,
40. God for vs prouiding some better thing, that they without vs should not be consummate.