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.
