1 N ow faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.

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

2 G od was pleased with the men who had faith who lived long ago.

For therein the elders had witness borne to them.

3 T hrough faith we understand that the world was made by the Word of God. Things we see were made from what could not be 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 B ecause Abel had faith, he gave a better gift in worship to God than Cain. His gift pleased God. Abel was right with God. Abel died, but by faith he is still speaking to us.

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 ecause Enoch had faith, he was taken up from the earth without dying. He could not be found because God had taken him. The Holy Writings tell how he pleased God before he was taken up.

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 A man cannot please God unless he has faith. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He is. That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for 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 ecause Noah had faith, he built a large boat for his family. God told him what was going to happen. His faith made him hear God speak and he obeyed. His family was saved from death because he built the boat. In this way, Noah showed the world how sinful it was. Noah became right with God because of his faith in God.

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 ecause Abraham had faith, he obeyed God when God called him to leave his home. He was to go to another country that God promised to give him. He left his home without knowing where he was going.

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 H is faith in God kept him living as a stranger in the country God had promised to him. Isaac and Jacob had received the same promise. They all lived in tents together.

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 A braham was looking to God and waiting for a city that could not be moved. It was a city planned and built by God.

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

11 B ecause Sarah had faith, she was able to have a child long after she was past the age to have children. She had faith to believe that God would do what He 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 A braham was too old to have children. But from this one man came a family with as many in it as the stars in the sky and as many as the sand by the sea.

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 people all died having faith in God. They did not receive what God had promised to them. But they could see far ahead to all the things God promised and they were glad for them. They knew they were strangers here. This earth was not their home.

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 P eople who say these things show they are looking for a country of their own.

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

15 T hey did not think about the country they had come from. If they had, they might have gone back.

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 they wanted a better country. And so God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has made a city for them.

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 ecause Abraham had faith, when he was tested, he gave his son Isaac as a gift on the altar in worship. God had made a promise to Abraham that He would give him a son. And yet Abraham was willing to give his only son as a gift on the altar in worship.

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

18 G od had said to Abraham, “Your family will come from Isaac.”

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

19 A braham believed God was able to bring Isaac back to life again. And so it may be said that Abraham did receive him back from death.

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 ecause Isaac had faith, he said that good would come to Jacob and Esau in the future.

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

21 B ecause Jacob had faith, he said that good would come to each of Joseph’s sons as he was dying. He used his walking stick to hold him up as he prayed to God.

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 ecause Joseph had faith, he spoke of the Jews leaving the country of Egypt. He was going to die soon, and he told them to bury his body in the country where they were going.

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 ecause of faith, Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months. They saw that he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king when he said that all baby boys should be killed.

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 ecause Moses had faith, he would not be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter when he grew up.

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

25 H e chose to suffer with God’s people instead of having fun doing sinful things for awhile.

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

26 A ny shame that he suffered for Christ was worth more than all the riches in Egypt. He kept his eyes on the reward God was going to give him.

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

27 B ecause Moses had faith, he left Egypt. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. Moses did not turn from the right way but kept seeing God in front of him.

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

28 B ecause Moses had faith, he told all the Jews to put blood over their doors. Then the angel of death would pass over their houses and not kill their oldest sons.

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

29 B ecause the Jews had faith, they went through the Red Sea as if they were on dry ground. But when the people of Egypt tried to go through, they were all killed by the water.

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

30 B ecause the Jews had faith, the walls of the city of Jericho fell down after the Jews had walked around the city for seven days.

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

31 B ecause Rahab had faith, she was kept from being killed along with those who did not obey God. She was a woman who sold the use of her body. But she helped the men who had come in secret to look over the country. There Were Many More Who Had Faith in God

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

32 W hat more should I say? There is not enough time to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthah and of David and of Samuel and of the early preachers.

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 I t was because these people had faith that they won wars over other countries. They were good leaders. They received what God promised to them. They closed the mouths of lions

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

34 a nd stopped fire that was burning. They got away from being killed with swords. They were made strong again after they had been weak and sick. They were strong in war. They made fighting men from other countries run home.

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 I t was because some women had faith that they received their dead back to life. Others chose to be beaten instead of being set free, because they would not turn against God. In this way, they would be raised to a better life.

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

36 O thers were talked against. Some were beaten. Some were put in chains and in prison.

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

37 T hey were killed by stones being thrown at them. People were cut in pieces. They were tested. They were killed with swords. They wore skins of sheep and goats and had nothing they could call their own. They were hungry and sick. Everyone was bad to them.

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 T hey walked around in deserts and in mountains. They looked for caves and holes in the earth to live in. They were too good for this world.

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

39 I t was because of their faith that God was pleased with them. But they did not receive what God had promised.

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

40 G od had planned something better for us. These men could not be made perfect without us.

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