Hebrews 11:1-18 ▼

1 Now faith is the foundation of our hopes of happiness, and the persuasion we have about things not evident to our senses.

2 and it was for their faith that our fore-fathers acquired so great a reputation.

3 'Tis by faith we learn that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the visible world was not made out of any thing that did appear.

4 'Twas by faith that Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he was declared righteous, God himself having testified that he accepted his offering, and after he died for his faith, he was not silent.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he might avoid dying; and he could not be found, because God had translated him: for 'tis recorded, that before his translation he was approved by God.

6 now without faith it is impossible to be acceptable to him: for he that presents himself to God, cannot but believe he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who make their addresses to him.

7 'Twas by faith that Noah being divinely warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern built an ark to the preservation of his family; whereby the world became inexcusable, and he obtained the reward of that righteousness which is by faith.

8 'Twas by faith that he who was named Abraham, showed his obedience in travelling to a foreign country, which he was afterwards to inherit; and began his journey without knowing where he was going.

9 'twas by faith that he sojourned in a land that was promised, as in a strange country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were equally entitled to the same promise.

10 for he had in view the city, whose foundations are sure, the architect and founder being God.

11 'Twas likewise through faith that Sara, though barren, received the power of becoming pregnant, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 so that even a single person whose vigour was gone, gave rise to a posterity as numerous as the stars of the sky, or the sands on the sea-shore, which cannot be numbred.

13 These all died in faith, without receiving what was promised, having only a distant view of what they eagerly expected, professing to live as strangers and pilgrims in the land.

14 for they, that make such a declaration, show plainly that they seek some other country.

15 and truly, if that had been in their view, they might have had an opportunity of returning to the place from whence they came.

16 they desired therefore a better, that is, an heavenly country: so that God is very justly stiled their God: for he had appointed a city for them.

17 'Twas by faith that Abraham, when put to the trial, offered up Isaac: HE offered up his darling son, to whose posterity the promises were to be made good:

18 of whom it was said, "only the descendants of Isaac shall be counted your posterity:"