1 ¶ Faith, therefore, is the substance of things waited for, the evidence of things not seen.

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

2 F or by it the elders obtained a good report.

For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

3 T hrough faith we understand that the ages were framed by the word of God, that which is seen being made of that which was not seen.

By 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.

4 ¶ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and by it he being dead yet speaks.

By 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.

5 B y faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God had translated him, for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

By 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:

6 B ut without faith it is impossible to please God; for he that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those that diligently seek him.

And 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.

7 B y faith Noah, having received revelation of things not seen as yet, with great care prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and was made heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

By 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.

8 B y faith Abraham, being called, hearkened to go out into the place which he should afterwards receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he went.

By 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.

9 B y faith he sojourned in the promised land, as in a strange country, dwelling in booths with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

By 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:

10 f or he looked for a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 B y faith also Sara herself being sterile received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she believed him to be faithful who had promised.

By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised:

12 T herefore there sprang even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

wherefore 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.

13 T hese all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seeing them afar off and believing them and embracing them and confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

These 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.

14 F or those that say such things declare plainly that they seek their native country.

For they that say such things make it manifest that they are seeking after a country of their own.

15 A nd truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came out, they might have had time to have returned.

And if indeed they had been mindful of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

16 B ut now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one; therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

But 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.

17 B y faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac, and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

18 o f whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called,

even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 a ccounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence he also received him in a figure.

accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a figure receive him back.

20 B y faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning what they should become.

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

21 B y faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 B y faith Joseph, as he died, made mention of the departing of the sons of Israel, and gave a commandment concerning his bones.

By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 B y faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.

By 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.

24 B y faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 c hoosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season,

choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 e steeming the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward.

27 B y faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

28 B y faith he kept the passover and the sprinkling of the blood lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

By faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.

29 B y faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempted to do and were drowned.

By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were swallowed up.

30 B y faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days.

31 B y faith the harlot Rahab did not perish together with the disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, having received the spies with peace.

32 ¶ And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthae, of David also and Samuel and of the prophets,

And 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:

33 w ho by faith won kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

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

34 q uenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, recovered from infirmities, were made valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of foreign enemies;

quenched 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.

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

Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 a nd others experienced cruel mockings and scourgings, and added to this, bonds and imprisonment;

and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 t hey were stoned; they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; poor, afflicted, mistreated,

they 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); they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.

(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves, and the holes of the earth.

39 A nd these all, approved by testimony of faith, received not the promise,

And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise,

40 G od having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

God having provided some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.