Léctio Epístolæ ad Hebrǽos (11,1-19)
Est fides sperándo rum substántia, rerum arguméntum non apparéntium. In hac enim testimónium consecúti sunt senióres. Fide intellégimus aptáta esse sǽcula verbo Dei, ut ex invisibílibus visibília facta sint. Fide ampliórem hóstiam Abel quam Cain óbtulit Deo, per quam testimónium consecútus est esse iústus, testimónium perhibénte munéribus eíus Deo; et per illam defúnctus adhuc lóquitur. Fide Henoch translátus est, ne vidéret mortem, et non inveniebátur, quia tránstulit illum Deus; ante translatiónem enim testimónium accépit placuísse Deo. Sine fide autem impossíbile placére; crédere enim opórtet accedéntem ad Deum quia est et inquiréntibus se remunerátor fit. Fide Nœ, respónso accépto de his, quæ adhuc non videbántur, revéritus aptávit arcam in salútem domus suæ; per quam damnávit mundum, et iustítiæ, quæ secúndum fidem est, heres est institútus. Fide vocátus Ábraham obœdívit in locum exíre, quem acceptúrus erat in hereditátem; et exívit nésciens quo iret. Fide peregrinátus est in terra promissiónis tamquam in aliéna, in cásulis habitándo cum Ísaac et Iácob, coherédibus promissiónis eiúsdem; exspectábat enim fundaménta habéntem civitátem, cuíus ártifex et cónditor Deus. Fide – et ipsa Sara stérilis – virtútem in conceptiónem séminis accépit étiam præter tempus ætátis, quóniam fidélem crédidit esse, qui promíserat; propter quod et ab uno orti sunt, et hoc emórtuo, tamquam sídera cæli in multitúdine, et sicut aréna, quæ est ad oram maris, innumerábilis. Iúxta fidem defúncti sunt omnes isti, non accéptis promissiónibus, sed a longe eas aspiciéntes et salutántes, et confiténtes quia peregríni et hóspites sunt supra terram; qui enim hæc dicunt, signíficant se pátriam inquírere. Et si quidem illíus meminíssent, de qua exíerant, habébant útique tempus reverténdi; nunc autem meliórem appétunt, id est cæléstem. Ídeo non confúnditur Deus vocári Deus eórum, parávit enim illis civitátem. Fide óbtulit Ábraham Ísaac, cum tentarétur; et unigénitum offerébat ille, qui suscéperat promissiónes, ad quem dictum erat: “In Ísaac vocábitur tibi semen”, arbitrátus quia et a mórtuis suscitáre potens est Deus; unde eum et in parábola reportávit.
Brethren: faith is, the substance of things to be hoped for, the argument of things not appearing. For in this the old men obtained testimony. By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God: that of invisible things visible things might be made. By faith, Abel offered a greater host to God than Cain: by which he obtained testimony that he was just, God giving testimony to his gifts, and by it, he being dead, yet speaketh. 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 testimony that he had pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him. By faith, Noe having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, fearing, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world: and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith. By faith, he that is called, Abraham, obeyed to go forth into the place which he was to receive for inheritance: and he went forth, not knowing whither he went. By faith, he abode in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in cottages with Isaac & Jacob the coheirs of the same promise. For he expected the city that hath foundations: whose artificer and maker is God. By faith, Sara also herself being barren, received virtue in conceiving of seed, yea past the time of age: because she believed that he was faithful which had promised. For the which cause even of one (and him quite dead) there rose as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand that is by the sea shore innumerable. According to faith died all these, not having received the promises, but beholding them a far off, and saluting them, and confessing that they are pilgrims & strangers upon the earth. For they that say these things, do signify that they seek a country. And indeed if they had been mindful of the same from whence they came forth, they had time verily to return. But now they desire a better, that is to say, a heavenly. Therefore God is not confounded to be called their God. For he hath prepared them a city. By faith, Abraham offered Isaac, when he was tempted: and his only-begotten did he offer who had received the promises: (to whom it was said, That in Isaac shall seed be called to thee. ) accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Whereupon he received him also for a parable.
