1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen. 2 For in this the ancients were commended. 3 By faith we understand the universe to have been formed by the word of God, so that the things being seen have not been made from 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 bearing witness to 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 had taken him up. For before the translation, he was commended to have pleased God. 6 And without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For it behooves the one drawing near to God to believe that He exists and that He becomes a rewarder to those earnestly seeking Him out. 7 By faith Noah, having been divinely instructed concerning the things not yet seen, having been moved with fear, prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham, being called to go out into a place that he was going 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 joint-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 considered the One having promised faithful. 12 Therefore also were born from one man, and he having been as good as dead, as the stars of heaven in multitude, and countless as the sand by the shore of the sea. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having embraced 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 their own country. 15 And indeed if they had been remembering that from where 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 has 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 son, 18 as to whom it was said, “In Isaac your offspring will be reckoned,” 19 having reasoned that God was able even to raise him out from the dead, from where he received him also in a simile. 20 By faith also Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the things coming. 21 By faith Jacob, dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and worshiped on the top of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, dying, made mention concerning the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, having been born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw the little 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 Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 having chosen to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of sin, 26 having esteemed the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking toward the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not having feared the anger of the king; for he persevered, as seeing the Invisible One. 28 By faith he has kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the one destroying the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land, which the Egyptians, an attempt having made, 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 received the spies with peace. 32 And what more shall I say? For the time will fail me, telling of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, also David, and Samuel, and the prophets, 33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises; shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the mouths of the sword; acquired strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put to flight foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36 And others received the trial of mockings and of scourgings, and in addition, of chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were killed by slaughter of the sword; they wandered in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, being oppressed, being mistreated; 38 of whom the world was not worthy; wandering in deserts, and mountains, and caves, and holes of the earth. 39 And these all, having been commended through the faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having planned something better for us, so that not apart from us, they should be made perfect.