Chapter 11
1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for , proof of things not seen.
2 For by this , the elders obtained approval .
3 By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God , so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible .
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain , through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous , God testifying with respect to his gifts ; and through it he , being dead, still speaks .
5 By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he wouldn’ t see death , and he was not found , because God translated him . For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to God .
6 Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him , for he who comes to God must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him .
7 By faith Noah , being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear , prepared a ship for 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 to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance . He went out , not knowing where he went .
9 By faith he lived as an alien 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 was looking for the city which has foundations , whose builder and maker is God .
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive , and she bore a child when she was past age , since she counted him faithful who had promised .
12 Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude , and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore , were fathered by one man , and him as good as dead .
13 These all died in faith , not having received the promises , but having seen them and embraced them from afar , and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth .
14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own .
15 If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out , they would have had enough time to return.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is , a heavenly one . Therefore God is not ashamed of them , to be called their God , for he has prepared a city for them .
17 By faith , Abraham, being tested , offered up Isaac . Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his only born son,
18 to whom it was said , " Your offspring will be accounted as from Isaac ,"
19 concluding that God is able to raise up even from the dead . Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead .
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 on the top of his staff .
22 By faith Joseph , when his end was near, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel , and gave instructions concerning his bones .
23 By faith Moses , when he was born , was hidden for three months by his parents , because they saw that he was a beautiful child ; and they were not afraid of the king ’s commandment .
24 By faith Moses , when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh ’s daughter ,
25 choosing rather to share ill treatment with God ’ s people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward .
27 By faith he left 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 on dry land . When the Egyptians tried to do so , they were swallowed up .
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days .
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute didn’ t perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace .
32 What more shall I say ? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon , Barak, Samson , Jephthah , David , Samuel , and the prophets —
33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out 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 , grew mighty in war , and caused foreign armies to flee .
35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured , not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others were tried by mocking and scourging , yes , moreover by bonds and imprisonment .
37 They were stoned . They were sawn apart. They were tempted . They were slain with the sword . They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins ; being destitute , afflicted , ill-treated —
38 of whom the world was not worthy— wandering in deserts , mountains , caves , and the holes of the earth .
39 These all , having been commended for their faith , didn’ t receive the promise ,
40 God having provided some better thing concerning us , so that apart from us they should not be made perfect .