Hebrews 11:1-34 ▼

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen.

2 For in this the ancients were well-attested.

3 By faith we understand the ages to have been completed thoroughly by the word of God, in order for that being seen not to have come into being out of the things being visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he was testified to be righteous, God testifying about his gifts; and through it, having died, he still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was translated not to see death, “and he was not found, because God translated him.” For before the translation, he had been testified to have pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for it is necessary for the one coming to God to believe that He is and that He becomes a rewarder to those seeking Him out.

7 By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet being seen, having been moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righeousness according to faith.

8 By faith Abraham, being called to go out into a place that he was about to receive for an inheritance, obeyed and went out, not knowing where he is going.

9 By faith he sojourned in the land of the promise as in a foreign country, having dwelt in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.

10 For he was awaiting the city having foundations, of which the architect and builder is God.

11 By faith also Sarah, herself barren, received power for the conception of seed even beyond the opportune age, since she esteemed faithful the One having promised.

12 Therefore also were born from one man, and these of one having become as dead, as the stars of heaven in multitude, and as the sand by the shore of the sea, countless.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having welcomed them, and having confessed that they are strangers and sojourners on the earth.

14 For those saying such things make manifest that they are seeking out a homeland.

15 And indeed if they had been remembering that from which they came out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 But now they stretch forward to a better one, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God; for He prepared a city for them.

17 By faith Abraham, being tested. has offered up Isaac. Even the one having received the promises was offering up his only begotten,

18 as to whom it was said, “In Isaac a seed will be called to you,”

19 having reasoned that God was able even to raise him out from the dead, from where he received him back also in a simile.

20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the things about to be.

21 By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped on the top of his staff.

22 By faith Joseph, finishing life, made mention concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave commands concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw the child was beautiful, and they did not fear the edict of the king.

24 By faith Moses, having become grown, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,

25 having chosen to suffer mistreatment with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin,

26 having esteemed the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.

27 By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the anger of the king; for as seeing the Invisible One, he persevered.

28 By faith he has kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one destroying the firstborn should not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians, having made an attempt, were swallowed up.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those having disobeyed, having welcomed the spies with peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For the time will fail me recounting fully about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, worked justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,

34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword, were made powerful out of weakness, became strong in war, and put to flight foreign armies.