1Now faith is the 1aassurance of things 2bhoped for, the 3conviction of cthings not seen.
2For by it the amen of old 1bgained approval.
3By faith we understand that the 1aworlds were prepared bby the word of God, so that what is seen cwas not made out of things which are visible.
4By faith aAbel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he bobtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying 1about his cgifts, and through 2faith, though dhe is dead, he still speaks.
5By faith aEnoch was taken up so that he would not bsee death; and he was not found because God took him up; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.
6And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who acomes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
7By faith aNoah, being bwarned by God about cthings not yet seen, 1din reverence eprepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of fthe righteousness which is according to faith.
8By faith aAbraham, when he was called, obeyed 1by going out to a place which he was to breceive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he lived as an alien in athe land of promise, as in a foreign land, bdwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, cfellow heirs of the same promise;
10for he was looking for athe city which has bfoundations, cwhose architect and builder is God.
11By faith even aSarah herself received 1ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him bfaithful who had promised.
12Therefore there was born even of one man, and ahim as good as dead 1at that, as many descendants bas the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.
13aAll these died in faith, bwithout receiving the promises, but chaving seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and dhaving confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.
15And indeed if they had been 1thinking of that country from which they went out, athey would have had opportunity to return.
16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a aheavenly one. Therefore bGod is not 1ashamed to be ccalled their God; for dHe has prepared a city for them.
17By faith aAbraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had breceived the promises was offering up his only begotten son;
18it was he to whom it was said, “aIn Isaac your 1descendants shall be called.”
191He considered that aGod is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back 2as a btype.
20By faith aIsaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21By faith aJacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bworshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22By faith aJoseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
23By faith aMoses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the bking’s edict.
24By faith Moses, awhen he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
25choosing rather to aendure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
26aconsidering the reproach of 1Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the breward.
27By faith he aleft Egypt, not bfearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as cseeing Him who is unseen.
28By faith he 1akept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that bhe who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.
29By faith they apassed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were 1drowned.
30By faith athe walls of Jericho fell down bafter they had been encircled for seven days.
31By faith aRahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies 1in peace.
32And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of aGideon, bBarak, cSamson, dJephthah, of eDavid and fSamuel and the prophets,
33who by faith aconquered kingdoms, bperformed acts of righteousness, cobtained promises, dshut the mouths of lions,
34aquenched the power of fire, bescaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, cbecame mighty in war, cput foreign armies to flight.
35aWomen received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their 1release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36and others 1experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also achains and imprisonment.
37They were astoned, they were bsawn in two, 1they were tempted, they were cput to death with the sword; they went about din sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, eill-treated
38(men of whom the world was not worthy), awandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes 1in the ground.
39And all these, having 1agained approval through their faith, bdid not receive 2what was promised,
40because God had 1provided asomething better for us, so that bapart from us they would not be made perfect.
