1Now faith is the substance of what we hope for, the evidence of what we do not see.
2For by faith those who lived long ago were well spoken of.
3Through faith we understand that the worlds were made by the word of God. So the things we see were not made out of things that appear.
4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By it he was witnessed to be righteous, for God spoke well of his gifts. And by it he still speaks, though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken away, so that he did not see death. He was not found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, this was said about him: that he pleased God.
6But without faith it is impossible to please him. For anyone who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he rewards those who search for him with all their heart.
7By faith Noah was warned by God about things not yet seen. He was moved with fear, and he built an ark to save his household. By this he condemned the world, and he became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as his inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he lived in the land of promise as if it were a foreign country. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10For he was looking for a city with foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11Through faith Sara herself also received strength to conceive a child, and she gave birth when she was past the age for it. For she judged him faithful who had promised.
12So from one man, and he as good as dead, there came descendants as many as the stars in the sky, and countless as the sand by the seashore.
13All these died in faith. They had not received the promises, but they had seen them far off. They were sure of them, and welcomed them, and said openly that they were strangers and travellers on the earth.
14For people who say such things make it plain that they are looking for a country of their own.
15Truly, if they had been thinking of the country they came from, they would have had the chance to go back.
16But now they long for a better country, a heavenly one. So God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was offering up his only son,
18the son about whom it was said, "In Isaac your descendants shall be named."
19He counted that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. And in a manner of speaking, he did receive him back from there.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph. He worshipped, leaning on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when he died, spoke of the going out of the children of Israel, and gave orders about his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child. And they were not afraid of the king's command.
25He chose rather to suffer hardship with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
26He counted the shame of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked ahead to the reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the anger of the king. For he kept on, as one who sees him who cannot be seen.
28Through faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as though it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do the same, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been marched around for seven days.
31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who did not believe, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32And what more shall I say? There is not time enough to tell of Gedeon, and Barak, and Samson, and Jephthae, and of David, and Samuel, and the prophets.
33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, did righteousness, received promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34put out the fury of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness they were made strong. They grew brave in battle, and drove back the armies of foreigners.
35Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, and would not accept release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection.
36Others went through cruel mocking and whipping, and also chains and prison.
37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, in need, troubled, and tormented.
38The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39All these were well spoken of because of their faith, yet they did not receive the promise.
40God had provided something better for us, so that they should not be made perfect apart from us.