2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

2 Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past.

2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

2 For in the power of this the elders have obtained testimony.

2 God accepted our ancestors because of their faith. 

2 For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.

2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.

2 For by this the people of old were approved.

2 That is what the people of long ago were praised for.

2 For by it the men of old gained approval.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

16 But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, because he has prepared a city for them.

16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.

16 but now they seek a better, that is, a heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he has prepared for them a city.

16 Instead, these men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them. 

16 But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

16 But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

16 But now they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

16 Instead, they longed for a better country. They wanted one in heaven.

So God is pleased when they call him their God. In fact, he has prepared a city for them.

16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,

39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

39 All these people earned a good reputation because of their faith, yet none of them received all that God had promised.

39 All these people are known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised.

39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

39 And these all, having obtained witness through faith, did not receive the promise,

39 All these people were known for their faith, but none of them received what God had promised.

39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,

39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised,

39 And although they all were approved through their faith, they did not receive what was promised,

39 All of those people were praised because they had faith. But none of them received what God had promised.

39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,