Hebrews 11

1 Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

2 This is why the ancients were commended.

3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

4 By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to the place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.

10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

11 By faith Sarah, even though she was beyond the proper age, received power and was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12 And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

13 All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.

15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son,

18 even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”

19 Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.

23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.

25 He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.

26 He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.

27 By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.

29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.

32 And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,

33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

36 Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to the test, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.

38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.

40 God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.

1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 ¶ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, [so many] as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son],

18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, [leaning] upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw [he was] a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 ¶ And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and [of] Barak, and [of] Samson, and [of] Jephthae; [of] David also, and Samuel, and [of] the prophets:

33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and [in] mountains, and [in] dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

1 Now faith is a certain assurance of that which is hoped for, and not doubting that which is not seen.

2 By whom the ancients received testimony.

3 By faith we know that the world is finished by the word of God, that all things which are seen are made of nothing.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a greater sacrifice than Kam, by which he bare witness that he was righteous, when God testified of his offering: and by the same he speaketh yet, though he were dead.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God took him away: for before he was taken away he had testimony that he pleased God.

6 but without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who would come to God must believe that he is and will be a recompense to those who seek him.

7 By faith Noah honoured God, and prepared the ark for the salvation of his house, when he received a divine commandment from him that was not yet seen; by which he condemned the world, and inherited the righteousness that cometh by faith.

8 By faith Abraham was obedient, when he was called to go forth into the land which he should inherit: and he went forth, and knew not whither he went.

9 By faith he was a stranger in the land of promise, as in a strange land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise.

10 For he waited for a city that hath a foundation, whose builder and maker is GOD.

11 By faith also Sarah received strength, and conceived, and bare beyond the days of her old age: for she esteemed him faithful that had promised.

12 Therefore also of one, as though his body were dead, many are born, as the stars of heaven, and as the sand upon the brink of the sea, which is innumerable.

13 All these died in faith, and received not the promise, but saw it afar off, and were put off, and were well satisfied, and confessed that they were sojourners and strangers on the earth.

14 For they that say these things shew that they seek a fatherland.

15 And if they had meant that from which they departed, they had time to return.

16 But now they desire a better, even a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tempted, offered up Isaac, and gave the only begotten, when he had already received the promise,

18 Of whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called,

19 And thought, God also is able to raise from the dead: therefore he took him again for an example.

20 By faith Isaac blessed of things to come Jacob and Esau.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was dead, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and bowed himself to the head of his sceptre.

22 By faith Joseph spake of the going out of the children of Israel, when he died, and did commandment of his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid from his parents three months: because they saw that he was a goodly child, and feared not the king's commandment.

24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, would no more be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.

25 and would rather suffer mischief with the people of God than have the temporal pleasure of sin,

26 And counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt, and feared not the king's wrath: for he held fast to him whom he saw not, as though he saw him.

28 By faith he kept the passover, and the shedding of blood, that he that choked the firstborn might not choke them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red sea, as through dry land: which also the Egyptians tried, and were drowned.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, when they had compassed themselves about seven days.

31 By faith the harlot Rahab was not lost with the unbelievers, because she received the spies with kindness.

32 And what shall I say more? The time would be too short for me, if I should tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and the prophets,

33 Who by faith have overcome kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promise, stopped the mouths of lions,

34 have quenched the power of fire, have escaped the edge of the sword, have been strengthened out of weakness, have become strong in battle, have put down the army of the stranger.

35 The women have received again their dead from the resurrection: but the rest are bruised, and have received no redemption, that they might obtain the resurrection which is better.

36 Some have suffered scorn and scourging, and bondage and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, they were cut in pieces, they were stabbed, they were slain by the sword; they went about in furs and in goats' skins, with want, with affliction, with trouble.

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy) and have walked in misery in the deserts, and in the mountains, and in the clefts and holes of the earth.

39 All these have testified by faith, and have not received the promise,

40 because God has provided something "better for us beforehand, so that they would not be completed without us.