| 1 | Now faith is the substance of things hoped for , the evidence of things not seen . |
| 2 | For by it the elders obtained a good report . |
| 3 | Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God , so that things which are seen were not made of things which do 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 speaketh . |
| 5 | By 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 . |
| 6 | But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is , and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him . |
| 7 | By faith Noah , being warned of God of things not seen as yet , moved with fear , prepared an ark to the saving of his house ; by the which he condemned the world , and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith . |
| 8 | By faith Abraham , when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance , obeyed ; and he went out , not knowing whither he went . |
| 9 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise , as [in] a strange country , dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob , the heirs with him of the same promise : |
| 10 | For he looked for a city which hath foundations , whose builder and maker [is] God . |
| 11 | Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed , and was delivered of a child when she was past age , because she judged him faithful who had promised . |
| 12 | Therefore sprang there 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 . |
| 13 | These all died in faith , not having received the promises , but having seen them afar off , and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth . |
| 14 | For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country . |
| 15 | And truly , if they had been mindful of that [country] from whence they came out , they might have had opportunity to have returned . |
| 16 | But now they desire a better [country], that is , an heavenly : wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God : for he hath prepared for them a city . |
| 17 | By faith Abraham , when he was tried , offered up Isaac : and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten [son], |
| 18 | Of whom it was said , That in Isaac shall thy seed be called : |
| 19 | Accounting that God [was] able to raise [him] up , even from the dead ; from whence also he received him in a figure . |
| 20 | By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come . |
| 21 | By faith Jacob , when he was a dying , blessed both the sons of Joseph ; and worshipped , [leaning] upon the top of his staff . |
| 22 | By faith Joseph , when he died , made mention of the departing of the children of Israel ; and gave commandment concerning his bones . |
| 23 | By faith Moses , when he was born , was hid three months of his parents , because they saw [he was] a proper child ; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment . |
| 24 | By faith Moses , when he was come to years , refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter ; |
| 25 | Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; |
| 26 | Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt : for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward . |
| 27 | By faith he forsook Egypt , not fearing the wrath of the king : for he endured , as seeing him who is invisible . |
| 28 | Through faith he kept the passover , and the sprinkling of blood , lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them . |
| 29 | By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry [land]: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned . |
| 30 | By faith the walls of Jericho fell down , after they were compassed about seven days . |
| 31 | By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not , when she had 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 : |
| 33 | Who through faith subdued kingdoms , wrought righteousness , obtained promises , stopped the mouths of lions , |
| 34 | Quenched the violence of fire , escaped the edge of the sword , out of weakness were made strong , waxed valiant in fight , turned to flight the armies of the aliens . |
| 35 | Women received their dead raised to life again : and others were tortured , not accepting deliverance ; that they might obtain a better resurrection : |
| 36 | And others had trial of [cruel] mockings and scourgings , yea , moreover of bonds and imprisonment : |
| 37 | They were stoned , they were sawn asunder , were tempted , were slain with the sword : they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins ; being destitute , afflicted , tormented ; |
| 38 | (Of whom the world was not worthy :) they wandered in deserts , and [in] mountains , and [in] dens and caves of the earth . |
| 39 | And these all , having obtained a good report through faith , received not the promise : |
| 40 | God having provided some better thing for us , that they without us should not be made perfect . |
