Hebrews 11

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old were commended. By faith we understand that the universe was formed by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being from visible things. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. Through it he was commended as righteous, God testifying to his gifts, and through it, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken away so that he would not see death, and he could not be found because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he had been commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen, in reverent fear built an ark to save his household. Through that faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith. By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed by going out to a place he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out without knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as a foreigner in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. For he was awaiting the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he also, together with Sarah herself, received power to father offspring, even beyond the proper age, because he considered the one who had promised faithful. Therefore from one man, and one as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars of heaven and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these died in faith without receiving the promises, but they saw and welcomed them from afar, acknowledging that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. And if they had been thinking of the country they left, they would have had an opportunity to return. But now they long for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when tested, offered Isaac. The one who had received the promises was offering his only son, even though he had been told, “Through Isaac your offspring will be named.” He reasoned that God was able even to raise him from the dead, and from there, figuratively speaking, he received him back. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as his end drew near, mentioned the departure of the children of Israel and gave instructions about his bones. By faith Moses was hidden for three months by his parents when he was born, because they saw that the child was beautiful and did not fear the king's decree. By faith Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's wrath, for he endured as though seeing the one who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. By faith they crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it, they were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed, because she welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, practiced righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead back through resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing release so that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others experienced mockings and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, and killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and holes in the earth. And all these, though commended through faith, did not receive the promise, because God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.

Rights and attribution