Hebrews 11

1Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proof of things not seen.

2For by this the elders received approval.

3By faith we understand that the ages were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen did not come into being from things that are visible.

4By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested as righteous, God testifying concerning his gifts; and through it, though he died, he still speaks.

5By faith Enoch was taken away so that he should not see death, and he was not found because God had taken him away. For before his being taken away, he had been commended as having pleased God,

6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who comes to God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

7By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the salvation of his household, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness according to faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go out to a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was going.

9By 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.

10For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive offspring, even beyond the proper time of life, because she considered the one who had promised to be faithful.

12Therefore from one man, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable sand by the seashore.

13All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and greeted them, and having confessed that they are strangers and exiles on the earth.

14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

15And if they had been remembering that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16But as it is, 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.

17By faith Abraham, when he was being tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had received the promises was offering up his one and only son,

18to whom it was said, “In Isaac your offspring will be called,”

19having considered that God is able even to raise from the dead, from where, in a figure, he also received him back.

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

21By faith Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped while leaning on the top of his staff.

22By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin,

26He considered the reproach of Messiah greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.

27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger, for he endured as seeing the One who is invisible.

28By faith he has kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as through dry land, of which the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were swallowed up.

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me if I were telling about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, and also Samuel and the prophets,

33who through faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight.

35Women received back their dead by resurrection; but others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they died by the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—

38—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering in deserts and mountains, and caves and holes in the ground.

39And all these, though commended through faith, did not receive the promise,

40since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.