Hebrews 11

The Triumphs of Faith

1Now faith is the 1certainty of things 23hoped for, a 4proof of 5things not seen. 2For by it the 6people of old 78gained approval.

3By faith we understand that the 910world has been created 11by the word of God so that what is seen 12has not been made out of things that are visible. 4By faith 13Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was 14attested to be righteous, God testifying 15about his 16gifts, and through 17faith, though 18he is dead, he still speaks. 5By faith 19Enoch was taken up so that he would not 20see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who 21comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. 7By faith 22Noah, being 23warned by God about 24things not yet seen, 2526in reverence 27prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of 28the righteousness which is according to faith.

8By faith 29Abraham, when he was called, obeyed 30by going out to a place which he was to 31receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as a stranger in 32the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 33living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, 34fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for 35the city which has 36foundations, 37whose architect and builder is God. 11By faith even 38Sarah herself received 39ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him 40faithful who had promised. 12Therefore even from one man, and 41one who was as good as dead 42at that, there were born descendants who were 43just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

1344All these died in faith, 45without receiving the promises, but 46having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and 47having 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 48thinking of that country which they left, 49they would have had opportunity to return. 16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a 50heavenly one. Therefore 51God is not 52ashamed to be 53called their God; for 54He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith 55Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had 56received the promises was offering up his 57only son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “58Through Isaac your 59descendants shall be named.” 1960He considered that 61God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 62as a 6364type. 20By faith 65Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 66Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 67worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 68Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 69Moses, 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 70king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 71when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 72endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 2673considering the 74reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 75reward. 27By faith he 76left Egypt, not 77fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though 78seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 7980kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 81the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 82passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 83drowned.

30By faith 84the walls of Jericho fell down 8586after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith the prostitute 87Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 88in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 89Gideon, 90Barak, 91Samson, 92Jephthah, of 93David and 94Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 95conquered kingdoms, 96performed acts of righteousness, 97obtained promises, 98shut the mouths of lions, 3499quenched the power of fire, 100escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 101became mighty in war, 102put foreign armies to flight. 35103Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 104release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 105experienced mocking and flogging, and further, 106chains and imprisonment. 37They were 107stoned, they were sawn in two, 108they were tempted, they were 109put to death with the sword; they went about 110in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 111tormented 38(people of whom the world was not worthy), 112wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes 113in the ground.

39And all these, having 114gained 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.