Hebrews 11:16-39

16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a 1heavenly one. Therefore 2God is not 3ashamed to be 4called their God; for 5He has prepared a city for them.

17By faith 6Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had 7received the promises was offering up his 8only son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “9Through Isaac your 10descendants shall be named.” 1911He considered that 12God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 13as a 1415type. 20By faith 16Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 17Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 18worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 19Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 20Moses, 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 21king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 22when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 23endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 2624considering the 25reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 26reward. 27By faith he 27left Egypt, not 28fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though 29seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 3031kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 32the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 33passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 34drowned.

30By faith 35the walls of Jericho fell down 3637after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith the prostitute 38Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 39in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 40Gideon, 41Barak, 42Samson, 43Jephthah, of 44David and 45Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 46conquered kingdoms, 47performed acts of righteousness, 48obtained promises, 49shut the mouths of lions, 3450quenched the power of fire, 51escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 52became mighty in war, 53put foreign armies to flight. 3554Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 55release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 56experienced mocking and flogging, and further, 57chains and imprisonment. 37They were 58stoned, they were sawn in two, 59they were tempted, they were 60put to death with the sword; they went about 61in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 62tormented 38(people of whom the world was not worthy), 63wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes 64in the ground.

39And all these, having 65gained approval through their faith, 66did not receive 67what was promised,