111 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen . 2 For by it the men of old gained approval . 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared 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 better sacrifice than Cain , through which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous , God testifying about his gifts , and through faith, though he is dead , he still speaks . 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death ; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God . 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. 7 By faith Noah , being warned by God about things not yet seen , in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household , by which he condemned the world , and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith . 8 By faith Abraham , when he was called , obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance ; and he went out, not knowing where he was going . 9 By faith he lived as an alien 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 looking for the city which has foundations , whose architect and builder is God . 11 By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive e , even beyond the proper time of life , since she considered Him faithful who had promised . 12 Therefore there was born even of one man , and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER , AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE . 13 All these died in faith , without receiving the promises , but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance , and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth . 14 For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own . 15 And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return . 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one . Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God ; for He has prepared a city for them. 17 By faith Abraham , when he was tested , offered up Isaac , and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; 18 it was he to whom it was said , " IN ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS SHALL BE CALLED ." 19 He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead , from which he also received him back as a type . 20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau , even regarding things to come . 21 By faith Jacob , as he was dying , blessed each of the sons of Joseph , and worshiped , leaning on the top of his staff . 22 By faith Joseph , when he was dying , made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel , and gave orders concerning his bones . 23 By faith Moses , when he was born , was hidden for three months by his parents , because they saw he was a beautiful child ; and they were not afraid of the king's edict . 24 By faith Moses , when he had grown e up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter , 25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin , 26 considering the reproach of Christ greater riches 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 unseen . 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood , so that he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land ; and the Egyptians , when they attempted e it, were drowned . 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days . 31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient , after 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 by faith conquered kingdoms , performed acts of righteousness , obtained promises , shut the mouths of lions , 34 quenched the power of fire , escaped the edge of the sword , from weakness were made strong , became mighty in war , put foreign armies to flight . 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection ; and others were tortured , not accepting their release , so that they might obtain a better resurrection ; 36 and others experienced e mockings and scourgings , yes , also chains and imprisonment . 37 They were stoned , they were sawn in two , they were tempted , they were put to death e e with the sword ; they went about in sheepskins , in goatskins e , being destitute , afflicted , ill-treated 38 (men of whom the world was not worthy ), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground . 39 And all these , having gained approval through their faith , did not receive what was promised , 40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect .
