Hebrews 11
1 Ref Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.
2 Ref For by this, the elders obtained testimony.
3 Ref 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 Ref 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 bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks.
5 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref By faith, Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for 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 to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went.
9 Ref 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 Ref For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen{TR adds "and being convinced of"} them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 Ref For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking after a country of their own.
15 Ref If indeed they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had enough time to return.
16 Ref 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 Ref By faith, Abraham, being tested, offered up Isaac. Yes, he who had gladly received the promises was offering up his one and only son;
18 Ref even he to whom it was said, "In Isaac will your seed be called;"
19 Ref accounting that God is able to raise up even from the dead. Figuratively speaking, he also did receive him back from the dead.
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 worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 Ref choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time;
26 Ref accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
27 Ref By faith, he left 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 on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up.
30 Ref By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encircled for seven days.
31 Ref By faith, Rahab the prostitute, didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
32 Ref 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 Ref who, through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out 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, grew mighty in war, and turned to flight armies of aliens.
35 Ref Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Ref Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment.
37 Ref 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 Ref (of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth.
39 Ref These all, having had testimony given to them through their faith, didn't receive the promise,
40 Ref God having provided some better thing concerning us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.