Hebrews Chapter 11
1 Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things that are seen were not made of things that do appear.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain. By this, he obtained a witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts. By it he, being dead, yet speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated~ so that he would not see death. He was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation, he had this testimony: That he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please God. For those who come to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear and prepared an ark for the saving of his house. In this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go to a place that he would later⁺ receive as an inheritance, obeyed. He went, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he sojourned~ to the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.
10 He was looking for the city having foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed and gave birth⁺ when she was past childbearing age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore there arose⁺, even from one as good as dead, many descendants like the multitude of stars in the sky and innumerable as the sand on the sea shore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them a far distance away. They were persuaded about them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners⁺ on the Earth.
14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they are seeking a homeland⁺.
15 Truly, if they had been mindful of that country from where they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is a heavenly homeland. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested⁺, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises offered up his only begotten~ son.
18 It was said of him that in Isaac your descendants⁺ shall be called forth. Genesis 21:12
19 Abraham concluded⁺ that God was able to raise anyone up, even from the dead. And in this, he also received a prophetic example⁺.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and he still worshiped, even leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave instructions⁺ concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful⁺ child. They were not afraid of the king's edict⁺.
24 By faith Moses, when he had come of age⁺, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.
25 He chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures~ of sin for a season.
26 He esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect for the repayment⁺ of the reward.
27 By faith he left⁺ Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king. For seeing the invisible, he endured.
28 Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried⁺ to do that, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were surrounded⁺ about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe when she had received the spies with peace.
32 What more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthae, of David and Samuel and of all the prophets.
33 Through faith they subdued kingdoms, worked⁺ righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the violence of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness they were made strong, grew⁺ valiant in fight, and turned the armies of the aliens to flight.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others received⁺ trials by cruel mockings and scourgings and even⁺ chains⁺ and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, sawn apart⁺, tested⁺, and slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented.
38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in dens and caves in the earth.
39 And yet all of them, even having obtained a good report through faith, did not receive the promise.
40 God anticipated⁺ something better for us so that, without us, everything would not be fulfilled⁺.