< Hebrews 11 >
1 Now faith is the title-deed of things hoped for; the putting to the proof of things not seen.
2 For by it men of old times had witness borne to them.
3 By faith we understand that the world was fashioned by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of what is visible. (aiōn )
4 By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice more acceptable than that of Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it he, although he is dead, still speaks.
5 By faith Enoch was translated so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. Before his translation he had witness borne to him that he pleased God.
6 now without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he ever rewards those who are seeking.
7 By faith Noah, warned of God of things not yet seen, reverently gave heed, and built an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is of faith.
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land as an alien, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, his fellow heirs of the same promise.
10 For he continually looked for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed, although she was past the age for child-bearing, because she counted Him faithful who had promised;
12 and thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars in the heavens in multitude, or grains of sand upon the seashore, innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having yet received the promises; nay, but they saw them from afar, and hailed them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For those who say such things make it plain that they are seeking a Fatherland.
15 And if they had cherished the memory of that land from which they went out, they would have found an opportunity to return;
16 but now they are longing for a better homeland, that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; and he has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, was on the point of offering up Isaac; yes, he who had received the promise was about to offer up his only son,
18 of whom it had been said, It is through Isaac that your posterity will be traced.
19 For he accounted God able even to raise from the dead, from whence, figuratively speaking, he did indeed receive him back again.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the exodus of the children of Israel, and gave instructions in regard to his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s decree.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
26 He accounted the obloquy of Christ to be greater than the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his eyes on the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not because he feared the wrath of the king, but he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
28 By faith he established the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood, in order that the Destroying Angel might not touch the firstborn.
29 By faith the people crossed over the Red Sea as on dry land; and when the Egyptians tried to do this they were swallowed up.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled seven days.
31 By faith Rahab, the harlot, perished not with the disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? for time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, and of Jeptha; of David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, proved valiant in warfare, and routed armies of aliens.
35 Woman received their dear ones alive from the dead; and others were broken on the wheel, not accepting the offered deliverance, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36 Others again bore trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, even of chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, persecuted, tormented -
38 of whom the world was not worthy - wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 Yet, though these all had witness borne to them by their faith, they received not the promise;
40 since it was for us that God had in store some better thing, so that apart from us they should not be perfected.
