Hebrews 11:4-38

4By faith aAbel offered to God ba more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And cthrough his faith, though he died, he dstill speaks. 5By faith eEnoch 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 fmust believe that he exists and gthat he rewards those who seek him. 7By faith hNoah, being warned by God concerning ievents 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 jthe righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith kAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place lthat he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he went to live in mthe land of promise, as in a foreign land, nliving in tents owith Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to pthe city that has qfoundations, rwhose designer and builder is God. 11By faith sSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered thim faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and uhim as good as dead, were born descendants vas many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith, wnot having received the things promised, but xhaving seen them and greeted them from afar, and yhaving acknowledged that they were zstrangers 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, aathey 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 abto be called their God, for ache has prepared for them a city.

17By faith adAbraham, 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, aeThrough Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 afHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20By faith agIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21By faith ahJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, aibowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22By faith ajJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23By faith akMoses, 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 althe king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, amrefused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 anchoosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy aothe fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 apHe considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to aqthe reward. 27By faith he arleft Egypt, asnot being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured atas seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith auhe kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

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

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of azGideon, baBarak, bbSamson, bcJephthah, of bdDavid and beSamuel and the prophets 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, bfstopped the mouths of lions, 34 bgquenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, bhbecame mighty in war, biput foreign armies to flight. 35 bjWomen received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even bkchains and imprisonment. 37 blThey were stoned, they were sawn in two,
Some manuscripts add they were tempted
bnthey were killed with the sword. boThey went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated
38of whom the world was not worthybpwandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

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