Heb 11:2-40 | ESV | STEP | For by it the people of old received their commendation .

Hebrews 11:2-40

2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by ^athe word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of ^bthings that are visible.

4 By faith ^cAbel offered to God ^da more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And ^ethrough his faith, though he died, he ^fstill speaks. 5 By faith ^gEnoch 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. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God ^hmust believe that he exists and ⁱthat he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith ^jNoah, being warned by God concerning ^kevents 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 ^lthe righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith ^mAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place ⁿthat he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in ^othe land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^pliving in tents ^qwith Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to ^rthe city that has ^sfoundations, ^twhose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith ^uSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered ^vhim faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and ^whim as good as dead, were born descendants ^xas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, ^ynot having received the things promised, but ^zhaving seen them and greeted them from afar, and ^aahaving acknowledged that they were ^abstrangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, ^acthey would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed ^adto be called their God, for ^aehe has prepared for them a city.

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

23 By faith ^amMoses, 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 ^anthe king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^aorefused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 ^apchoosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^aqthe fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 ^arHe considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^asthe reward. 27 By faith he ^atleft Egypt, ^aunot being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^avas seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith ^awhe kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith ^axthe people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith ^aythe walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith ^azRahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^bahad given a friendly welcome to the spies.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^bbGideon, ^bcBarak, ^bdSamson, ^beJephthah, of ^bfDavid and ^bgSamuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^bhstopped the mouths of lions, 34 ^biquenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, ^bjbecame mighty in war, ^bkput foreign armies to flight. 35 ^blWomen received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even ^bmchains and imprisonment. 37 ^bnThey were stoned, they were sawn in two, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add they were tempted} ^bpthey were killed with the sword. ^bqThey went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy— ^brwandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, ^bsthough commended through their faith, ^btdid not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, ^buthat apart from us they should not be made perfect.