11
1 Now
faith is assurance
of things hoped
for, proof of
things not seen.
2 For
by this, the
elders obtained
approval.
3 By
faith we
understand that
the universe has
been framed by
the word of
God, so that
what is seen
has not been
made out of
things which are
visible.
4 By
faith Abel offered
to God a
more excellent
sacrifice than
Cain, through
which he had
testimony given to
him that he
was righteous, God
testifying with
respect to his
gifts; and through
it he, being dead,
still speaks.
5 By
faith Enoch was
taken away, so
that he wouldn’t
see death, and
he was not
found, because God
translated him.
For he has
had testimony
given to him
that before his
translation he had
been well pleasing
to God.
6 Without
faith it
is impossible to
be well pleasing
to him, for
he who comes
to God must
believe that
he exists, and
that he is
a rewarder of
those who seek
him.
7 By
faith Noah, being
warned about
things not
yet seen, moved with
godly fear,
prepared a ship
for the saving
of his house,
through which he
condemned the
world and became
heir of the
righteousness which
is according to
faith.
8 By
faith Abraham, when
he was called,
obeyed to go
out to the
place which he
was to receive
for an inheritance.
He went out,
not knowing where
he went.
9 By
faith he lived
as an alien
in the land
of promise, as
in a land
not his own,
dwelling in tents
with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs
with him of
the same promise.
10 For
he was looking
for the city
which has
foundations, whose
builder and maker
is God.
11 By
faith even
Sarah herself received
power to conceive,
and she bore
a child when she
was past age,
since she counted
him faithful who
had promised.
12 Therefore
as many as
the stars of the
sky in multitude,
and as innumerable
as the sand which
is by the
sea shore, were
fathered by one
man, and him
as good as
dead.
13 These
all died in
faith, not having
received the
promises, but
having seen
them and embraced
them from afar,
and having
confessed that
they were
strangers and
pilgrims on the
earth.
14 For
those who say
such things make
it clear that
they are seeking
a country of
their own.
15 If
indeed they had
been thinking of
that country from
which they went
out, they would
have had enough
time to return.
16 But
now they desire
a better country,
that is, a
heavenly one.
Therefore God is
not ashamed of
them, to be
called their God,
for he has
prepared a city
for them.
17 By
faith, Abraham, being
tested, offered up
Isaac. Yes, he who
had gladly received the
promises was
offering up his
only born
son,
18 to
whom it was
said, “Your offspring
will be accounted
as from Isaac,”
19 concluding
that God is
able to raise
up even from
the dead. Figuratively speaking,
he also did
receive him back
from the dead.
20 By
faith Isaac
blessed Jacob and
Esau, even
concerning things
to come.
21 By
faith Jacob, when
he was dying,
blessed each of
the sons of
Joseph, and
worshiped, leaning on
the top of his
staff.
22 By
faith Joseph, when
his end was near,
made mention of
the departure of
the children of
Israel, and
gave instructions concerning
his bones.
23 By
faith Moses, when
he was born,
was hidden for
three months by
his parents,
because they saw
that he was
a beautiful child;
and they were
not afraid of
the king’s
commandment.
24 By
faith Moses, when
he had grown up,
refused to be
called the son
of Pharaoh’s
daughter,
25 choosing
rather to share
ill treatment with
God’s people
than to enjoy
the pleasures of sin
for a time,
26 considering
the reproach of
Christ greater
riches than the
treasures of Egypt;
for he looked to
the reward.
27 By
faith he
left Egypt, not
fearing the wrath
of the king;
for he endured,
as seeing him
who is invisible.
28 By
faith he kept
the Passover and
the sprinkling of
the blood, that
the destroyer of
the firstborn
should not touch
them.
29 By
faith they passed
through the Red
Sea as on
dry land. When
the Egyptians tried
to do so,
they were
swallowed up.
30 By
faith the walls
of Jericho fell
down after they
had been encircled
for seven days.
31 By
faith Rahab the
prostitute didn’t
perish with those
who were disobedient, having
received the spies
in peace.
32 What
more shall I
say? For the
time would fail
me if I
told of Gideon,
Barak, Samson, Jephthah,
David, Samuel, and
the prophets—
33 who
through faith
subdued kingdoms, worked
out righteousness,
obtained promises,
stopped the mouths
of lions,
34 quenched
the power of
fire,
escaped the edge
of the sword,
from weakness were
made strong, grew
mighty in war,
and caused foreign armies
to flee.
35 Women
received their
dead by resurrection.
Others were
tortured, not
accepting their deliverance,
that they might
obtain a
better resurrection.
36 Others
were tried by
mocking and
scourging, yes,
moreover by bonds
and imprisonment.
37 They were
stoned.
They were sawn apart.
They were tempted.
They were slain with
the sword.
They went around
in sheep skins and
in goat skins;
being destitute,
afflicted, ill-treated—
38 of
whom the world
was not worthy—wandering
in deserts,
mountains, caves,
and the holes
of the earth.
39 These
all, having been
commended for
their faith, didn’t
receive the
promise,
40 God
having provided
some better thing
concerning us, so
that apart from
us they should
not be made
perfect.