Hebrews 11

1Now faith is confidence in things hoped for, conviction of things not seen.

2For by this the elders were attested.

3By faith we understand the ages to have been formed by God's word, so that what is seen has not come into being from things that appear.

4By faith Abel offered God a superior sacrifice to Cain's, through which he was attested righteous—God testifying over his gifts—and through it, though dead, he still speaks.

5By faith Enoch was removed so that he did not see death, and he was not found because God had removed him; for before his removal it has been attested that he pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever approaches God must believe that he exists and that he is a rewarder to those who seek him.

7By faith Noah, warned about things not yet seen and moved by reverence, built an ark for the salvation of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to depart for the place he was about to receive as an inheritance, and he departed, not knowing where he was going.

9By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a foreign place, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the fellow heirs of that same promise.

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

11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive offspring even beyond childbearing age, because she deemed trustworthy the one who promised.

12Therefore even from one man—and him as good as dead—were born descendants as numerous as the stars of the sky, and as the innumerable sand by the seashore.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises but having seen them from afar and welcomed them, and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.

14For those who say such things show that they seek a homeland.

15And if indeed they had been remembering that country from which they went out, they would have had time to return.

16But now they desire a better one, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them.

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

18to whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed will be called."

19He reasoned that God was even able to raise from the dead, from which he also received him figuratively.

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

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

22By faith Joseph, when dying, remembered the departure of Israel's sons and commanded concerning his bones.

23By faith, when Moses was born, his parents hid him for three months because they saw the child was handsome and were not afraid of the king's decree.

24By faith Moses, when grown great, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh's daughter.

25choosing rather to endure hardship with God's people than to experience sin's temporary enjoyment.

26He reckoned the reproach of Christ greater riches than Egypt's treasures, for he looked to the recompense.

27By faith he abandoned Egypt, not fearing the king's indignation; for he persevered, as beholding the unseen.

28By faith he observed the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest the destroyer of the firstborn touch them.

29By faith they crossed the Red Sea as on dry ground; when the Egyptians attempted it, they were devoured.

30By faith the walls of Jericho collapsed after they were surrounded for seven days.

31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who disobeyed, having received the spies with peace.

32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to recount Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David as well, Samuel, and the prophets.

33who by faith conquered kingdoms, accomplished righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions.

34They extinguished fire’s might, escaped the sword’s blade, were empowered from weakness, became powerful in war, and routed foreigners’ camps.

35Women received their dead through resurrection, but others were tortured, not accepting deliverance in order to attain a better resurrection.

36Others faced trial through mockery and scourging, moreover through bonds and imprisonment.

37They were stoned, sawn in two, put to death by the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, mistreated.

38The world was unworthy of them, who wandered in deserts and mountains, in caves and the holes of the earth.

39And they all, attested through their faith, did not receive the promise.

40God having foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be perfected.