JMNT(i)
1 Now faith continuously exists being (or: trust with loyal conviction is) a standing-under (a substructure; a basis; = the ground on which to build; that which underlies the apparent, and thus is the substance, essence or real nature) of things being habitually expected and anticipated [p13 reads: is a standing-away from things being presently hoped for]; an evidence from a test which proves concerning effects of practices (or: an evidence-based proof of the results of matters, actions or deeds) [that are] not presently seen or normally being observed. [note: Karen Armstrong, in The Case for God, has suggested that pistis not only involves trust and loyalty, but also engagement and commitment. Paul Tillich saw faith as "the state of being grasped by the Spiritual Presence and opened to the transcendent unity of unambiguous life." (Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, p. 131)]
2 For in the midst of and in union with this the ancient ones (or: the folks old time; the elders) were given testimony (or: had witness and evidence borne to them that gave them a reputation; had their record attested):
3 In faith and by confident, loyal trust, with the mind we constantly perceive (or: with the intellect we now understand) the ages to have been completely equipped by (and, or: thoroughly adjusted to; knit together and put in order in) God's gush-effect (or: the result of that which flowed from God; or: a declaration or speech that had the source, character and qualities of God; or: a spoken word which was God), into the [resultant situation]: the thing continuously being seen (being looked at and observed) has not come into being from out of the midst of things which are normally appearing (or: continuously shining and exposing themselves to view; or: presently becoming visible or being given light and thus being made to appear).
4 In faith, by trust, with loyal confidence and to express faithful allegiance, Abel offered to God much more of a sacrifice than (or: compared to) Cain, through which he was given witness (a testimony) to be one in accord with the Way pointed out, with fairness and equity in rightwised relationship (a just one), God's continuous witnessing [being] upon his gifts [with other MSS: a continual testimony upon his gifts, by and in God]; and through it [i.e., faith and God's testimony] he, being dead, is still continuously speaking.
5 In faith, by trust, with confidence and for loyal allegiance, Enoch was transported (transferred; translated; changed to be in another place), pertaining to the [situation] to not see death (to not behold, perceive or observe a death; or: = to not experience death), and he continued not being found, because God transported him. You see, before his transport (transfer; change of place), he had received testimony (or: is attested) to have pleased God well.
6 Now apart from faith, trust, confidence and loyal allegiance, [one is] powerless (or: unable) to please [God] well. It is necessary and binding for the person habitually approaching God to believe (to be convinced and trust) that He is (or: that He exists), and that He habitually comes to be (or: becomes) the One who pays back wages (or: gives away rewards) to, in and for those folks repeatedly (or: constantly) seeking Him out (or: seeking from out of Him).
7 In faith, by trust, with confidence and loyal allegiance, Noah, being instructed (or: being managed in public affairs) concerning those things as yet not seen, acting cautiously (or: receiving carefully; being shown [as] one who is taking hold well), prepared (made ready; furnished and equipped) an ark – [leading] into a deliverance (a rescue; a keeping safe) of his house – through which he made a corresponding evaluation and a commensurate decision about the aggregate of humanity (or: separated down the secular world; condemns the System; makes a judgment which falls in line with and follows the pattern of the ordered arrangement) and came to be an heir (an enjoyer of an allotment) of fair and equitable dealings (of justice and rightwised relationships in accord with the Way pointed out; also: = of covenant inclusion) down from faith, which is in line with trust and is in the sphere of convinced loyalty.
8 In loyal faith, by trusting allegiance and with confident faithfulness, Abraham obeyed (humbly listened and submissively paid attention, under [God]), continuing to be called to go out into the place which he was, and continued being, about to take in hand (or: receive) – into an inheritance (an enjoyment of an allotment). And he went out not presently putting his thoughts on (or: not being versed in or acquainted with) where he was progressively going.
9 In faith, by trust, with confident loyal allegiance, he sojourned (resided as an alien in a foreign country; lived alongside as a temporary inhabitant) [settling] into the land of the Promise as not his own (as belonging to another), dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise.
10 For he continued taking with the hand from out of (or: reaching in and receiving, then taking away from within) the city continuously having the foundations – whose Craftsman (or: Technician; Artisan) and skilled Worker for the people (or: Producer; Architect) [is] God.
11 In faith, by trust, with confidence and for loyal allegiance, also, Sarah herself – being sterile – received (or: laid hold of) power and ability unto a conception (a depositing; founding; casting down) of seed (= offspring), even beyond [the] fertile season of maturity (full age and prime of life), since a Faithful, Loyal and Believable One – the One promising – took the lead (led the way; presided; or, an alternate meaning of hgeomai yields: since she regarded the Promiser trustworthy and believable),
12 on which account, also, were born from one [couple] – and these of one having been deadened – [people] corresponding to the stars of the heaven (or: sky) for fullness of multitude, and as the sand beside the lip (shore) of the sea: the innumerable. [Gen. 15:5-6]
13 Down from faith (or: In line with confidence; Corresponding to trust; In the sphere of loyal allegiance and faithfulness) all these folks died off, not taking hold of (or: receiving; [other MSS: not being ones carrying off to themselves for kindly keeping]) the promises, but still, after seeing them forward at a distance, and drawing them to themselves and clinging to them, even speaking alike (saying the same thing; confessing in verbal agreement) that they are, and continue being, strangers and sojourners (or: foreigners and alien residents living in a foreign place) upon the land (or: earth).
14 For those (or: people) constantly saying such things are continuously shining within because (or: are causing to clearly appear that) they are habitually seeking upon (or: in earnest seeking for) a father-land (a land of the Father).
15 And if, indeed, they were still being mindful of and continued remembering that from which they came forth (or: went out) they would have continued having a fitting season (situation; occasion) to bend back up again (or: return),
16 yet now they are continuously stretching themselves out in order to touch a superior (stronger and better) one: this is one belonging to the superior-heaven (or: that is, pertaining to the One upon the atmosphere; or: this exists being one from the added, superimposed heaven). Wherefore God is habitually not ashamed of them, to be called upon [as] their God. You see, He prepared (made ready) a city for (or: by; with; among) them.
17 By faith, in trust and with confidence, Abraham, being progressively tried (or: being repeatedly tested for loyal allegiance) had presented and handed-over Isaac; even the one taking up and receiving the promises back again, began offering the only-begotten.
18 [He] toward whom it was spoken that, "In Isaac a seed shall continue being called (or: an offspring continue being summoned) for (to; in; by) you," [Gen. 21:12]
19 was logically reasoning and considering (reckoning; figuring; counting on) that God has power and is able to repeatedly arouse even out from among dead folks – whence also, in a parable, he took him back into keeping (or: he recovered him).
20 In faith, by trust, with confidence and for faithfulness, also, Isaac spoke well of (or: blessed) Jacob and Esau concerning impending things.
21 In faith, by trust, with confident faithfulness and for loyal allegiance, Jacob, when dying away, spoke well of (or: blessed) each of the sons of Joseph, and kissed his hand toward [them] (or: worshiped; or: showed respect), [leaning] upon the top of his staff.
22 In faith, by trust, with confidence and with loyalty, Joseph, finishing (ending; completing his course; reaching the goal of his destiny), called to mind (was mindful) concerning a way out (an exodus) of the sons of Israel, and imparted instructions for the goal, concerning his bones.
23 In faith, by trust, with confidence and for loyal allegiance, Moses, being born, was hidden three months by his parents (or: fathers), because they saw (perceived) the little boy [was] belonging to a city (well-bred; well-formed, genteel), and they were not frightened by the effect of the mandate of the king.
24 In faith, by trust, with confidence and for loyal allegiance, Moses, coming to be great (= important), refused (denies; disclaims; rejects; disowned) to be declared (or: termed) a son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing for himself (taking to himself) more (in preference; rather) to constantly encounter adversity and ill-treatment along with God's People, than to have a temporary (toward a limited period of time marked by a suitableness of circumstances) enjoyment and pleasure involved with falling short of the goal (which are a failure; that originates with error; characteristic of missing of the target; of sin),
26 considering the reproach associated with being the anointed one (or: pertaining to the Christ; or: = of Israel [at that time]) [to be] greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he began, and continued, looking away and giving his attention unto the reward (or: the discharge of wages).