Hebrews 11:2-40

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

3By faith we understand that the 45world has been created 6by the word of God so that what is seen 7has not been made out of things that are visible. 4By faith 8Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was 9attested to be 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 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 16comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards 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 left, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as a stranger in 27the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 28living 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 even from one man, and 36one who was as good as dead 37at that, there were born descendants who were 38just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

1339All these died in faith, 40without receiving the promises, but 41having seen and 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 which they left, 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 the one who had 51received the promises was offering up his 52only son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “53Through Isaac your 54descendants shall be named.” 1955He considered that 56God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 57as a 5859type. 20By faith 60Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 61Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 62worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 63Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 64Moses, 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 65king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 66when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 67endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 2668considering the 69reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 70reward. 27By faith he 71left Egypt, not 72fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though 73seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 7475kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 76the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 77passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 78drowned.

30By faith 79the walls of Jericho fell down 8081after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith the prostitute 82Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 83in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 84Gideon, 85Barak, 86Samson, 87Jephthah, of 88David and 89Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 90conquered kingdoms, 91performed acts of righteousness, 92obtained promises, 93shut the mouths of lions, 3494quenched the power of fire, 95escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 96became mighty in war, 97put foreign armies to flight. 3598Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 99release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 100experienced mocking and flogging, and further, 101chains and imprisonment. 37They were 102stoned, they were sawn in two, 103they were tempted, they were 104put to death with the sword; they went about 105in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 106tormented 38(people of whom the world was not worthy), 107wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes 108in the ground.

39And all these, having 109gained approval through their faith, 110did not receive 111what was promised, 40because God had 112provided 113something better for us, so that 114apart from us they would not be made perfect.