Hebrews 11:1-27

By Faith

1Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of ^athings not seen. 2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by ^bthe word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of ^cthings that are visible.

4By faith ^dAbel offered to God ^ea more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And ^fthrough his faith, though he died, he ^gstill speaks. 5By faith ^hEnoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God ⁱmust believe that he exists and ^jthat he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith ^kNoah, being warned by God concerning ^levents as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of ^mthe righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith ⁿAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place ^othat he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he went to live in ^pthe land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^qliving in tents ^rwith Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to ^sthe city that has ^tfoundations, ^uwhose designer and builder is God. 11By faith ^vSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered ^whim faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and ^xhim as good as dead, were born descendants ^yas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith, ^znot having received the things promised, but ^aahaving seen them and greeted them from afar, and ^abhaving acknowledged that they were ^acstrangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, ^adthey 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 ^aeto be called their God, for ^afhe has prepared for them a city.

17By faith ^agAbraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18of whom it was said, ^ah“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 ^aiHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20By faith ^ajIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21By faith ^akJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^albowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22By faith ^amJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23By faith ^anMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of ^aothe king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^aprefused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 ^aqchoosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^arthe fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 ^asHe considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^atthe reward. 27By faith he ^auleft Egypt, ^avnot being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^awas seeing him who is invisible.

1 Peter 1:8

8 ^axThough you have not seen him, you love him. ^ayThough you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

1 Peter 5:9

9 ^azResist him, ^bafirm in your faith, knowing that ^bbthe same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.