The Triumphs of Faith

11 Now faith is the [a](A)assurance of things [b](B)hoped for, the [c]conviction of (C)things not seen. For by it the (D)men of old [d](E)gained approval.

By faith we understand that the [e](F)worlds were prepared (G)by the word of God, so that what is seen (H)was not made out of things which are visible. By faith (I)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he (J)obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying [f]about his (K)gifts, and through [g]faith, though (L)he is dead, he still speaks. By faith (M)Enoch was taken up so that he would not (N)see 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. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who (O)comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. By faith (P)Noah, being (Q)warned by God about (R)things not yet seen, [h](S)in reverence (T)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of (U)the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith (V)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [i]by going out to a place which he was to (W)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in (X)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, (Y)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, (Z)fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for (AA)the city which has (AB)foundations, (AC)whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even (AD)Sarah herself received [j]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him (AE)faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore there was born even of one man, and (AF)him as good as dead [k]at that, as many descendants (AG)as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 (AH)All these died in faith, (AI)without receiving the promises, but (AJ)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and (AK)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own. 15 And indeed if they had been [l]thinking of that country from which they went out, (AL)they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a (AM)heavenly one. Therefore (AN)God is not [m]ashamed to be (AO)called their God; for (AP)He has prepared a city for them.

17 By faith (AQ)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had (AR)received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “(AS)In Isaac your [n]descendants shall be called.” 19 [o]He considered that (AT)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [p]as a (AU)type. 20 By faith (AV)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith (AW)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and (AX)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith (AY)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

23 By faith (AZ)Moses, 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 (BA)king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, (BB)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to (BC)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 (BD)considering the reproach of [q]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the (BE)reward. 27 By faith he (BF)left Egypt, not (BG)fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as (BH)seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [r](BI)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that (BJ)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they (BK)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [s]drowned.

30 By faith (BL)the walls of Jericho fell down (BM)after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith (BN)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [t]in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of (BO)Gideon, (BP)Barak, (BQ)Samson, (BR)Jephthah, of (BS)David and (BT)Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith (BU)conquered kingdoms, (BV)performed acts of righteousness, (BW)obtained promises, (BX)shut the mouths of lions, 34 (BY)quenched the power of fire, (BZ)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, (CA)became mighty in war, (CB)put foreign armies to flight. 35 (CC)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [u]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [v]experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also (CD)chains and imprisonment. 37 They were (CE)stoned, they were (CF)sawn in two, [w]they were tempted, they were (CG)put to death with the sword; they went about (CH)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, (CI)ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), (CJ)wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes [x]in the ground.

39 And all these, having [y](CK)gained approval through their faith, (CL)did not receive [z]what was promised, 40 because God had [aa]provided (CM)something better for us, so that (CN)apart from us they would not be made perfect.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:1 Or substance
  2. Hebrews 11:1 Or expected
  3. Hebrews 11:1 Or evidence
  4. Hebrews 11:2 Lit obtained a good testimony
  5. Hebrews 11:3 Lit ages
  6. Hebrews 11:4 I.e. by receiving his gifts
  7. Hebrews 11:4 Lit it
  8. Hebrews 11:7 Lit having become reverent
  9. Hebrews 11:8 Lit to go out
  10. Hebrews 11:11 Lit power for the laying down of seed
  11. Hebrews 11:12 Lit in these things
  12. Hebrews 11:15 Or remembering
  13. Hebrews 11:16 Lit ashamed of them, to be
  14. Hebrews 11:18 Lit seed
  15. Hebrews 11:19 Lit Considering
  16. Hebrews 11:19 Or figuratively speaking; lit in a parable
  17. Hebrews 11:26 I.e. the Messiah
  18. Hebrews 11:28 Lit has kept
  19. Hebrews 11:29 Lit swallowed up
  20. Hebrews 11:31 Lit with
  21. Hebrews 11:35 Lit redemption
  22. Hebrews 11:36 Lit received the trial of
  23. Hebrews 11:37 One early ms does not contain they were tempted
  24. Hebrews 11:38 Lit of
  25. Hebrews 11:39 Lit obtained a testimony
  26. Hebrews 11:39 Lit the promise
  27. Hebrews 11:40 Or foreseen