Hebrews 11:2-40

2For by it the 1men of old 23gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the 45worlds were prepared 6by the word of God, so that what is seen 7was not made out of things which are visible. 4By faith 8Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he 9obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying 10about his 11gifts, and through 12faith, though 13he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith 14Enoch was taken up so that he would not 15see 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 16comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7By faith 17Noah, being 18warned by God about 19things not yet seen, 2021in reverence 22prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of 23the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith 24Abraham, when he was called, obeyed 25by going out to a place which he was to 26receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in 27the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 28dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 29fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for 30the city which has 31foundations, 32whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even 33Sarah herself received 34ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him 35faithful who had promised. 12Therefore there was born even of one man, and 36him as good as dead 37at that, as many descendants 38as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

1339All these died in faith, 40without receiving the promises, but 41having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and 42having 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 43thinking of that country from which they went out, 44they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a 45heavenly one. Therefore 46God is not 47ashamed to be 48called their God; for 49He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith 50Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had 51received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “52In Isaac your 53descendants shall be called.” 1954He considered that 55God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 56as a 57type. 20By faith 58Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 59Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 60worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 61Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 62Moses, 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 63king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 64when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 65endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 2666considering the reproach of 67Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 68reward. 27By faith he 69left Egypt, not 70fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as 71seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 7273kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 74he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 75passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 76drowned.

30By faith 77the walls of Jericho fell down 78after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith 79Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 80in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 81Gideon, 82Barak, 83Samson, 84Jephthah, of 85David and 86Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 87conquered kingdoms, 88performed acts of righteousness, 89obtained promises, 90shut the mouths of lions, 3491quenched the power of fire, 92escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 93became mighty in war, 94put foreign armies to flight. 3595Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 96release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 97experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also 98chains and imprisonment. 37They were 99stoned, they were 100sawn in two, 101they were tempted, they were 102put to death with the sword; they went about 103in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 104ill-treated 38(men of whom the world was not worthy), 105wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes 106in the ground.

39And all these, having 107108gained approval through their faith, 109did not receive 110what was promised, 40because God had 111provided 112something better for us, so that 113apart from us they would not be made perfect.