The Faith Chapter

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

2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying about his gifts; and through it, though he is dead, he still speaks.

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found,” because God had taken him; for before his being taken he had been witnessed as having pleased God.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of those who actively seek Him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, moved with reverent fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

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

9 By faith he lived in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise.

10 For he was waiting for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive, despite being past the age, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore from one, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

13 All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

14 For those who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.

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

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

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; and he who had received the promises was offering up his only-begotten,

18 to whom it was said, “In Isaac shall your seed be called,”

19 accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.

20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

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

22 By faith Joseph, when dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave command concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

24 By faith Moses, when grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin,

26 considering 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 fearing the wrath of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.

29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians, attempting, were swallowed.

30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after being encircled for seven days.

31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,

33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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

35 Women received their dead raised to life again; others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

36 And others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.

37 They were stoned, sawn in two, tempted, slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins, goatskins, destitute, afflicted, mistreated,

38 of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these, having gained approval through faith, did not receive the promise,

40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.