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 the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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

For by it the men of old gained approval.

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 were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder 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 ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered 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.

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 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.

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

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking 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 indeed if they had been thinking 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 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 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, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

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

it was he to whom it was said, “ In Isaac your descendants shall 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.

He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.

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 regarding 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, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on 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 he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders 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 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 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 had 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 endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

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.

considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the 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 left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen.

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, so that he who destroyed the firstborn would 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 though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were drowned.

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 encircled 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 did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in 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 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 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 by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut 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, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

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 back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so 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 experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains 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 in two, they were tempted, they were put to death 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.

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

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

And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,

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

because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.