Hebrews 11:13-40

New American Standard Bible

^13 (A)All these died in faith, ^(B)without receiving the promises, but ^(C)having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and ^(D)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 ^[a]thinking of that country which they left, ^(E)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(F)heavenly one. Therefore ^(G)God is not ^[b]ashamed to be ^(H)called their God; for ^(I)He has prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(J)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had ^(K)received the promises was offering up his ^[c]only son; ¹⁸ it was he to whom it was said, “^(L)Through Isaac your ^[d]descendants shall be named.” ^19 [e]He considered that ^(M)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[f]as a ^[g](N)type. ²⁰ By faith ^(O)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. ²¹ By faith ^(P)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(Q)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. ²² By faith ^(R)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(S)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 ^(T)king’s edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(U)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to ^(V)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, ^26 (W)considering the ^[h]reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(X)reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(Y)left Egypt, not ^(Z)fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though ^(AA)seeing Him who is unseen. ²⁸ By faith he ^[i](AB)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(AC)the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they ^(AD)passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[j]drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(AE)the walls of Jericho fell down ^[k](AF)after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. ³¹ By faith the prostitute ^(AG)Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[l]in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(AH)Gideon, ^(AI)Barak, ^(AJ)Samson, ^(AK)Jephthah, of ^(AL)David and ^(AM)Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who by faith ^(AN)conquered kingdoms, ^(AO)performed acts of righteousness, ^(AP)obtained promises, ^(AQ)shut the mouths of lions, ^34 (AR)quenched the power of fire, ^(AS)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(AT)became mighty in war, ^(AU)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (AV)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[m]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others ^[n]experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ^(AW)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were ^(AX)stoned, they were sawn in two, ^[o]they were tempted, they were ^(AY)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(AZ)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(BA)tormented ³⁸ (people of whom the world was not worthy), ^(BB)wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes ^[p]in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^(BC)gained approval through their faith, ^(BD)did not receive ^[q]what was promised, ⁴⁰ because God had ^[r]provided ^(BE)something better for us, so that ^(BF)apart from us they would not be made perfect.