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 left, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as a stranger in 11the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 12living 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 even from one man, and 20one who was as good as dead 21at that, there were born descendants who were 22just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.

1323All these died in faith, 24without receiving the promises, but 25having seen and 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 which they left, 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 the one who had 35received the promises was offering up his 36only son; 18it was he to whom it was said, “37Through Isaac your 38descendants shall be named.” 1939He considered that 40God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 41as a 4243type. 20By faith 44Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21By faith 45Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and 46worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith 47Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23By faith 48Moses, 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 49king’s edict. 24By faith Moses, 50when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25choosing rather to 51endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 2652considering the 53reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 54reward. 27By faith he 55left Egypt, not 56fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though 57seeing Him who is unseen. 28By faith he 5859kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that 60the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29By faith they 61passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 62drowned.

30By faith 63the walls of Jericho fell down 6465after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31By faith the prostitute 66Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 67in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of 68Gideon, 69Barak, 70Samson, 71Jephthah, of 72David and 73Samuel and the prophets, 33who by faith 74conquered kingdoms, 75performed acts of righteousness, 76obtained promises, 77shut the mouths of lions, 3478quenched the power of fire, 79escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, 80became mighty in war, 81put foreign armies to flight. 3582Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 83release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36and others 84experienced mocking and flogging, and further, 85chains and imprisonment. 37They were 86stoned, they were sawn in two, 87they were tempted, they were 88put to death with the sword; they went about 89in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, 90tormented 38(people of whom the world was not worthy), 91wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes 92in the ground.

39And all these, having 93gained approval through their faith, 94did not receive 95what was promised, 40because God had 96provided 97something better for us, so that 98apart from us they would not be made perfect.