Chapter 11
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
2For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3Through 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.
4By 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.
5By 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.
6But 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.
7By 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.
8By 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.
9By 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:
10For he
looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
God.
11Through 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.
12Therefore 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.
13These 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.
14For they that say
such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if
they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they
might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But 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.
17By faith
Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the
promises offered up his only begotten son,
18Of whom it was said,
That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19Accounting that God was
able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he
received him in a figure.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau
concerning things to come.
21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed
both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his
staff.
22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of
the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23By
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.
24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused
to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25Choosing rather to suffer
affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a
season;
26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the
treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he
endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28Through faith he kept the
passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn
should touch them.
29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry
land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30By faith
the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace.
32And 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:
33Who through faith subdued
kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of
lions,
34Quenched 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.
35Women received their dead raised to life
again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might
obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel
mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They
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.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us,
that they without us should not be made perfect.
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