Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.2 For therein the elders had witness borne to them.3 By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear.4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God bearing witness in respect of his gifts: and through it he being dead yet speaketh.5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him: for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God:6 And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.7 By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.9 By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:10 for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:12 wherefore also there sprang of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable.13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.14 For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.15 And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.16 But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.17 By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;18 even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:19 accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;26 accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.28 By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.31 By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.32 And what shall I more say? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; of David and Samuel and the prophets:33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, waxed mighty in war, turned to flight armies of aliens.35 Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:36 and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:37 they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword: they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated38 (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.39 And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,40 God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

HEBREWS 11

The Great Faith of God's People

1 Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see.

2 t It was their faith that made our ancestors pleasing to God.

3  t Because of our faith, we know that the world was made at God's command. We also know that what can be seen was made out of what cannot be seen.

4  t Because Abel had faith, he offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. God was pleased with him and his gift, and even though Abel is now dead, his faith still speaks for him.
5  t Enoch had faith and did not die. He pleased God, and God took him up to heaven. This is why his body was never found.

6 But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and rewards everyone who searches for him.

7  t Because Noah had faith, he was warned about something that had not yet happened. He obeyed and built a boat that saved him and his family. In this way the people of the world were judged, and Noah was given the blessings that come to everyone who pleases God.
8  t Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9 t Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise.

10 Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city God had planned and built.
11  t Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.

12 t Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the seashore.
13  t Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. 14 When people talk this way, it is clear they are looking for a place to call their own. 15 If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time.

16 But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. This is why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
17-18  t t Abraham had been promised that Isaac, his only son, t would continue his family. But when Abraham was tested, he had faith and was willing to sacrifice Isaac,

19 because he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting Isaac back from death.
20  t Isaac had faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau. 21 t Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of Joseph's sons.

22 t And right before Joseph died, he had faith that God would lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. So he told them to take his bones with them.
23  t Because Moses' parents had faith, they kept him hidden until he was three months old. They saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's orders.t 24 t Then after Moses grew up, his faith made him refuse to be called the king's grandson. 25 t He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of having the good time that sin could bring for a little while.

26 Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah, t and he looked forward to his reward.
27 Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger.

28 t His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.

29  t Because of their faith, the people walked through the Red Seat on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned.

30  t God's people had faith, and when they had walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.

31  t Rahab had been a prostitute, but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people who disobeyed.
32  t What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 t Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions

34 t and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.
35  t Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. 36 t Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. 37 t Still others were stoned to death or sawed in twot or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured.

38 The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. 40 This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.