^{1 Ref} Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the sign that the things not seen are true.

^{2 Ref} For by it our fathers had God's approval.

^{3 Ref} By faith it is clear to us that the order of events was fixed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made from things which only seem to be.

^{4 Ref} By faith Abel made a better offering to God than Cain, and he had witness through it of his righteousness, God giving his approval of his offering: and his voice still comes to us through it though he is dead.

^{5 Ref} By faith Enoch was taken up to heaven so that he did not see death; he was seen no longer, for God took him away: for before he was taken, witness had been given that he was well-pleasing to God:

^{6 Ref} And without faith it is not possible to be well-pleasing to him, for it is necessary for anyone who comes to God to have the belief that God is, and that he is a rewarder of all those who make a serious search for him.

^{7 Ref} By faith Noah, being moved by the fear of God, made ready an ark for the salvation of his family, because God had given him news of things which were not seen at the time; and through it the world was judged by him, and he got for his heritage the righteousness which is by faith.

^{8 Ref} By faith Abraham did as God said when he was ordered to go out into a place which was to be given to him as a heritage, and went out without knowledge of where he was going.

^{9 Ref} By faith he was a wanderer in the land of the agreement, as in a strange land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who had a part with him in the same heritage:

^{10 Ref} For he was looking for the strong town, whose builder and maker is God.

^{11 Ref} And by faith Sarah herself had power to give birth, when she was very old, because she had faith in him who gave his word;

^{12 Ref} So that from one man, who was near to death, came children in number as the stars in heaven, or as the sand by the seaside, which may not be numbered.

^{13 Ref} All these came to their end in faith, not having had the heritage; but having seen it with delight far away, they gave witness that they were wanderers and not of the earth.

^{14 Ref} For those who say such things make it clear that they are searching for a country for themselves.

^{15 Ref} And truly if they had kept in mind the country from which they went out, they would have had chances of turning back.

^{16 Ref} But now their desire is for a better country, that is to say, for one in heaven; and so it is no shame to God to be named their God; for he has made ready a town for them.

^{17 Ref} By faith Abraham made an offering of Isaac, when he was tested: and he with whom the agreement had been made gave up as an offering the only son of his body,

^{18 Ref} Of whom it had been said, From Isaac will your seed take their name:

^{19 Ref} Judging that God was able to give life even to the dead; and because of this he did get him back as if from death.

^{20 Ref} By faith Isaac, blessing Jacob and Esau, gave news of things to come.

^{21 Ref} By faith Jacob gave a blessing to the two sons of Joseph, when he was near to death; and gave God worship, supported by his stick.

^{22 Ref} By faith Joseph, when his end was near, said that the children of Israel would go out of Egypt; and gave orders about his bones.

^{23 Ref} By faith Moses was kept secretly by his father and mother for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a fair child; and they had no fear of the king's orders.

^{24 Ref} By faith Moses, when he became a man, had no desire to be named the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

^{25 Ref} Feeling that it was better to undergo pain with the people of God, than for a short time to have a taste of the pleasures of sin;

^{26 Ref} Judging a part in the shame of Christ to be better than all the wealth of Egypt; for he was looking forward to his reward.

^{27 Ref} By faith he went out of Egypt, not being turned from his purpose by fear of the wrath of the king; for he kept on his way, as seeing him who is unseen.

^{28 Ref} By faith he kept the Passover, and put the sign of the blood on the houses, so that the angel of destruction might not put their oldest sons to death.

^{29 Ref} By faith they went through the Red Sea as if it had been dry land, though the Egyptians were overcome by the water when they made an attempt to do the same.

^{30 Ref} By faith the walls of Jericho came down, after they had been circled for seven days.

^{31 Ref} By faith Rahab, the loose woman, was not put to death with those who had gone against God's orders, because she had taken into her house in peace those sent to see the land.

^{32 Ref} What more am I to say? For there would not be time to give the stories of Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets:

^{33 Ref} Who through faith overcame kingdoms, did righteousness, got their reward, kept the mouths of lions shut,

^{34 Ref} Put out the power of fire, got safely away from the edge of the sword, were made strong when they had been feeble, became full of power in war, and put to flight the armies of the nations.

^{35 Ref} Women had their dead given back to them living; others let themselves be cruelly attacked, having no desire to go free, so that they might have a better life to come;

^{36 Ref} And others were tested by being laughed at or by blows, and even with chains and prisons:

^{37 Ref} They were stoned, they were cut up with knives, they were tested, they were put to death with the sword, they went about in sheepskins and in goatskins; being poor and in pain and cruelly attacked,

^{38 Ref} Wandering in waste places and in mountains and in holes in the rocks; for whom the world was not good enough.

^{39 Ref} And not one of these got the good things of the agreement, though they all had a good record through faith,

^{40 Ref} Because God had kept some better thing for us, so that it was not possible for them to become complete without us.

^{1 Ref} And faith is of things hoped for a confidence, of matters not seen a conviction,

^{2 Ref} for in this were the elders testified of;

^{3 Ref} by faith we understand the ages to have been prepared by a saying of God, in regard to the things seen not having come out of things appearing;

^{4 Ref} by faith a better sacrifice did Abel offer to God than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it, he being dead, doth yet speak.

^{5 Ref} By faith Enoch was translated -- not to see death, and was not found, because God did translate him; for before his translation he had been testified to -- that he had pleased God well,

^{6 Ref} and apart from faith it is impossible to please well, for it behoveth him who is coming to God to believe that He is, and to those seeking Him He becometh a rewarder.

^{7 Ref} By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen, having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became heir.

^{8 Ref} By faith Abraham, being called, did obey, to go forth to the place that he was about to receive for an inheritance, and he went forth, not knowing whither he doth go;

^{9 Ref} by faith he did sojourn in the land of the promise as a strange country, in tabernacles having dwelt with Isaac and Jacob, fellow-heirs of the same promise,

^{10 Ref} for he was looking for the city having the foundations, whose artificer and constructor `is' God.

^{11 Ref} By faith also Sarah herself did receive power to conceive seed, and she bare after the time of life, seeing she did judge Him faithful who did promise;

^{12 Ref} wherefore, also from one were begotten -- and that of one who had become dead -- as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as sand that `is' by the sea-shore -- the innumerable.

^{13 Ref} In faith died all these, not having received the promises, but from afar having seen them, and having been persuaded, and having saluted `them', and having confessed that strangers and sojourners they are upon the earth,

^{14 Ref} for those saying such things make manifest that they seek a country;

^{15 Ref} and if, indeed, they had been mindful of that from which they came forth, they might have had an opportunity to return,

^{16 Ref} but now they long for a better, that is, an heavenly, wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for He did prepare for them a city.

^{17 Ref} By faith Abraham hath offered up Isaac, being tried, and the only begotten he did offer up who did receive the promises,

^{18 Ref} of whom it was said -- `In Isaac shall a seed be called to thee;'

^{19 Ref} reckoning that even out of the dead God is able to raise up, whence also in a figure he did receive `him'.

^{20 Ref} By faith, concerning coming things, Isaac did bless Jacob and Esau;

^{21 Ref} by faith Jacob dying -- each of the sons of Joseph did bless, and did bow down upon the top of his staff;

^{22 Ref} by faith, Joseph dying, concerning the outgoing of the sons of Israel did make mention, and concerning his bones did give command.

^{23 Ref} By faith Moses, having been born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child comely, and were not afraid of the decree of the king;

^{24 Ref} by faith Moses, having become great, did refuse to be called a son of the daughter of Pharaoh,

^{25 Ref} having chosen rather to be afflicted with the people of God, than to have sin's pleasure for a season,

^{26 Ref} greater wealth having reckoned the reproach of the Christ than the treasures in Egypt, for he did look to the recompense of reward;

^{27 Ref} by faith he left Egypt behind, not having been afraid of the wrath of the king, for, as seeing the Invisible One -- he endured;

^{28 Ref} by faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that He who is destroying the first-born might not touch them.

^{29 Ref} By faith they did pass through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians having received a trial of, were swallowed up;

^{30 Ref} by faith the walls of Jericho did fall, having been surrounded for seven days;

^{31 Ref} by faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who disbelieved, having received the spies with peace.

^{32 Ref} And what shall I yet say? for the time will fail me recounting about Gideon, Barak also, and Samson, and Jephthah, David also, and Samuel, and the prophets,

^{33 Ref} who through faith did subdue kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped mouths of lions,

^{34 Ref} quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouth of the sword, were made powerful out of infirmities, became strong in battle, caused to give way camps of the aliens.

^{35 Ref} Women received by a rising again their dead, and others were tortured, not accepting the redemption, that a better rising again they might receive,

^{36 Ref} and others of mockings and scourgings did receive trial, and yet of bonds and imprisonment;

^{37 Ref} they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tried; in the killing of the sword they died; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins -- being destitute, afflicted, injuriously treated,

^{38 Ref} of whom the world was not worthy; in deserts wandering, and `in' mountains, and `in' caves, and `in' the holes of the earth;

^{39 Ref} and these all, having been testified to through the faith, did not receive the promise,

^{40 Ref} God for us something better having provided, that apart from us they might not be made perfect.

^{1 Ref} Now faith is assurance of `things' hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.

^{2 Ref} For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

^{3 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

^{11 Ref} By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

^{12 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.

^{15 Ref} And if indeed they had been mindful of that `country' from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

^{16 Ref} 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 Ref} By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten `son';

^{18 Ref} even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

^{19 Ref} accounting that God `is' able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

^{20 Ref} By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

^{21 Ref} By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, `leaning' upon the top of his staff.

^{22 Ref} 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 Ref} 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 Ref} By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

^{25 Ref} choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

^{26 Ref} accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.

^{27 Ref} By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

^{28 Ref} By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

^{29 Ref} By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.

^{30 Ref} By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.

^{31 Ref} By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

^{32 Ref} 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 Ref} who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

^{34 Ref} 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 Ref} Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

^{36 Ref} and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

^{37 Ref} 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-treated

^{38 Ref} (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

^{39 Ref} And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

^{40 Ref} God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.