[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of
things not seen. [2] For by it the men of old received divine approval. [3]
By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God, so
that what is seen was made out of things which do not appear. [4] By faith
Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he
received approval as righteous, God bearing witness by accepting his gifts;
he died, but through his faith he is still speaking. [5] By faith Enoch was
taken up so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God
had taken him. Now before he was taken he was attested as having pleased
God. [6] And without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever
would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards
those who seek him. [7] By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning
events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark for the saving of
his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir of the
righteousness which comes by faith. [8] By faith Abraham obeyed when he was
called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and
he went out, not knowing where he was to go. [9] By faith he sojourned in
the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. [10] For he looked forward to
the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. [11] By
faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the
age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. [12] Therefore
from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the
stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. [13]
These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having
seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were
strangers and exiles on the earth. [14] For people who speak thus make it
clear that they are seeking a homeland. [15] If they had been thinking of
that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to
return. [16] But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a
heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he
has prepared for them a city. [17] By faith Abraham, when he was tested,
offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer
up his only son, [18] of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your
descendants be named." [19] He considered that God was able to raise men
even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
[20] By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. [21] By
faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in
worship over the head of his staff. [22] By faith Joseph, at the end of his
life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions
concerning his burial. [23] By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid for
three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful;
and they were not afraid of the king's edict. [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 fleeting pleasures of sin. [26] He considered abuse suffered for the
Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked to the
reward. [27] By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the
king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. [28] By faith he kept
the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the
first-born might not touch them. [29] By faith the people crossed the Red
Sea as if on dry land; but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the
same, were drowned. [30] By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they
had been encircled for seven days. [31] By faith Rahab the harlot did not
perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly
welcome to the spies. [32] And what more shall I say? For time would fail
me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the
prophets-- [33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice,
received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched raging fire,
escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty
in war, put foreign armies to flight. [35] Women received their dead by
resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they
might rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and
scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they
were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins
of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated-- [38] of whom the
world was not worthy-- wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens
and caves of the earth. [39] And all these, though well attested by their
faith, did not receive what was promised, [40] since God had foreseen
something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made
perfect.
