1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for , a conviction of things not seen. 2For therein the elders had witness borne to them . 3By faith we understand that the worlds have been framed by the word of God , so that what is seen hath not been made out of things which appear .
The Heroes of Faith
4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain , through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous , God bearing witness in respect of his gifts : and through it he being dead yet speaketh . 5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death ; and he was not found , because God translated him : for he hath had witness borne to him that before his translation he had been well-pleasing unto God : 6and without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him ; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him . 7By faith Noah , being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet , moved with godly fear , prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; through which he condemned the world , and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith . 8By faith Abraham, when he was called , obeyed to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance ; and he went out , not knowing whither he went . 9By faith he became a sojourner in the land of promise , as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents , with Isaac and Jacob , the heirs with him of the same promise : 10for he looked for the city which hath the foundations , whose builder and maker is God . 11By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age , since she counted him faithful who had promised : 12wherefore also there sprang of one , and him as good as dead , so many as the stars of heaven in multitude , and as the sand, which is by the sea-shore, innumerable. 13These all 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 pilgrims on the earth . 14For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own . 15And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out , they would have had opportunity to return. 16But now they desire a better country , that is , a heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed of them , to be called their God ; for he hath prepared for them a city .
Faith in Action
17By faith Abraham, being tried , offered up Isaac : yea , he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son ; 18even he to whom it was said , In Isaac shall thy seed be called : 19accounting that God is able to raise up , even from the dead ; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back . 20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau , even concerning things to come . 21By faith Jacob , when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph ; and worshipped , leaning upon the top of his staff . 22By faith Joseph , when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel ; and gave commandment concerning his bones . 23By faith Moses , when he was born , was hid three months by his parents , because they saw he was a goodly child ; and they were not afraid of the king ’s commandment . 24By faith Moses , when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh ’s daughter ; 25choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; 26accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward . 27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king : for he endured , as seeing him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the passover , and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them . 29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land : which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up . 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down , after they had been compassed about for seven days . 31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace .
The Faith of the People
32And what shall I more say ? for the time will fail me if I tell of Gideon , Barak, Samson , Jephthah ; of David and Samuel and the prophets : 33who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness , obtained promises , stopped the mouths of lions , 34quenched the power of fire , escaped the edge of the sword , from weakness were made strong , waxed mighty in war , turned to flight armies of aliens. 35Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured , not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36and others had trial of mockings and scourgings , yea , moreover of bonds and imprisonment : 37they were stoned , they were sawn asunder , they were tempted , they were slain with the sword : they went about in sheepskins , in goatskins; being destitute , afflicted , ill-treated 38( of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves , and the holes of the earth . 39And these all , having had witness borne to them through their faith , received not the promise , 40God having provided some better thing concerning us , that apart from us they should not be made perfect .