Hebrews 11

The Triumphs of Faith

1Now faith is the 12assurance of things 34hoped for, the 5conviction of 6things not seen. 2For by it the 7men of old 89gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the 1011worlds were prepared 12by the word of God, so that what is seen 13was not made out of things which are visible. 4By faith 14Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he 15obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying 16about his 17gifts, and through 18faith, though 19he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith 20Enoch was taken up so that he would not 21see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who 22comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7By faith 23Noah, being 24warned by God about 25things not yet seen, 2627in reverence 28prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of 29the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith 30Abraham, when he was called, obeyed 31by going out to a place which he was to 32receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in 33the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 34dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 35fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for 36the city which has 37foundations, 38whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even 39Sarah herself received 40ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him 41faithful who had promised. 12Therefore there was born even of one man, and 42him as good as dead 43at that, as many descendants 44as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

1345All these died in faith, 46without receiving the promises, but 47having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and 48having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15And indeed if they had been 49thinking of that country from which they went out, 50they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a 51heavenly one. Therefore 52God is not 53ashamed to be 54called their God; for 55He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith 56Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had 57received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “58In Isaac your 59descendants shall be called.” 1960He considered that 61God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 62as a 63type. 20By faith 64Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 65Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 66worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 67Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 68Moses, 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 69king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 70when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 71endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 2672considering the reproach of 73Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 74reward. 27By faith he 75left Egypt, not 76fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as 77seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 7879kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 80he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 81passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 82drowned.

30By faith 83the walls of Jericho fell down 84after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith 85Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 86in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 87Gideon, 88Barak, 89Samson, 90Jephthah, of 91David and 92Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 93conquered kingdoms, 94performed acts of righteousness, 95obtained promises, 96shut the mouths of lions, 3497quenched the power of fire, 98escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 99became mighty in war, 100put foreign armies to flight. 35101Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 102release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 103experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also 104chains and imprisonment. 37They were 105stoned, they were 106sawn in two, 107they were tempted, they were 108put to death with the sword; they went about 109in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 110ill-treated 38(men of whom the world was not worthy), 111wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes 112in the ground.

39And all these, having 113114gained approval through their faith, 115did not receive 116what was promised, 40because God had 117provided 118something better for us, so that 119apart from us they would not be made perfect.