Hebrews 11:7-40

7By faith 1Noah, being 2warned by God about 3things not yet seen, 45in reverence 6prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of 7the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith 8Abraham, when he was called, obeyed 9by going out to a place which he was to 10receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in 11the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 12dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 13fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for 14the city which has 15foundations, 16whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even 17Sarah herself received 18ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him 19faithful who had promised. 12Therefore there was born even of one man, and 20him as good as dead 21at that, as many descendants 22as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

1323All these died in faith, 24without receiving the promises, but 25having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and 26having 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 27thinking of that country from which they went out, 28they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a 29heavenly one. Therefore 30God is not 31ashamed to be 32called their God; for 33He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith 34Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had 35received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “36In Isaac your 37descendants shall be called.” 1938He considered that 39God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 40as a 41type. 20By faith 42Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 43Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 44worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 45Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 46Moses, 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 47king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 48when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 49endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 2650considering the reproach of 51Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 52reward. 27By faith he 53left Egypt, not 54fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as 55seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 5657kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 58he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 59passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 60drowned.

30By faith 61the walls of Jericho fell down 62after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith 63Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 64in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 65Gideon, 66Barak, 67Samson, 68Jephthah, of 69David and 70Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 71conquered kingdoms, 72performed acts of righteousness, 73obtained promises, 74shut the mouths of lions, 3475quenched the power of fire, 76escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 77became mighty in war, 78put foreign armies to flight. 3579Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 80release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 81experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also 82chains and imprisonment. 37They were 83stoned, they were 84sawn in two, 85they were tempted, they were 86put to death with the sword; they went about 87in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 88ill-treated 38(men of whom the world was not worthy), 89wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes 90in the ground.

39And all these, having 9192gained approval through their faith, 93did not receive 94what was promised, 40because God had 95provided 96something better for us, so that 97apart from us they would not be made perfect.