The Epistle to the Hebrews
11: 1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.
11:2For therein the elders had witness borne to them. 11:3By 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. 11:4By 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. 11:5By 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: 11:6And
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.
11:7By 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. 11:8By 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. 11:9By 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: 11:10for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder
and maker is God. 11:11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed
when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:
11:12wherefore 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. 11:13These 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. 11:14For they that say such things make it
manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own. 11:15And if indeed they
had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had
opportunity to return. 11:16But 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. 11:17By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea,
he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
11:18even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: 11:19accounting
that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a
figure receive him back. 11:20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even
concerning things to come. 11:21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of
the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 11:22By faith
Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of
Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. 11:23By 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. 11:24By faith Moses,
when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
11:25choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season; 11:26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches
than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. 11:27By
faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as
seeing him who is invisible. 11:28By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of
the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them. 11:29By faith
they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to
do were swallowed up. 11:30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had
been compassed about for seven days. 11:31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not
with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace. 11:32And
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: 11:33who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions, 11:34quenched 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. 11:35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured,
not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 11:36and
others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and
imprisonment: 11:37they 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 11:38(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering
in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth. 11:39And these all,
having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,
11:40God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they
should not be made perfect.