Hebrews 11

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2For by it the men of old received divine approval. 3By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4By faith Abel offered God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his gifts. And through faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. 5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had taken him. For before he was taken he was attested as having pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. 7By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in godly fear prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which comes by faith. 8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise; 10for he was looking forward to the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, because she considered him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from a distance, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And if they had been thinking of that country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16But 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. 17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son, 18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your descendants be called." 19He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph, when he was at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites, and gave orders concerning his bones. 23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26He considered abuse suffered for the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of justice, received promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, whose weakness was turned to strength, who became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated— 38of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40because God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.