Hebrews 11

Thomson^{(i) 1} Now, faith is a confident expectation of things hoped for; a convincement of the mind with respect to the reality of things not seen. ² By this therefore the ancients obtained reputation. ³ By faith we understand that the ages were arranged by a word of God, that the things seen should not at all be out of things which appear. ⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain; by means of which he received a testimonial of being righteous, God himself giving a testimony in favour of his gifts; and by it he, though dead, still speaketh. ⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God translated him; for before his translation he received this testimonial that he was well pleasing to God. ⁶ Now without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing; for he who cometh to God must believe that he existeth, and that he is the rewarder of them who diligently seek him. ⁷ By faith Noah, when warned of unforeseen events, with a religious concern prepared an ark for the saving of his household; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of that righteousness which is by faith. ⁸ By faith Abraham, when called, shewed obedience by going to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and set out on his journey not knowing whither he was going. ⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange land, and dwelt in tents with Isaak and Jacob, who were coheirs with him of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he expected that city which hath foundations, whose architect and founder is God. ¹¹ By faith Sarah also received strength for conception, and was delivered of a son when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore there sprang even from one, and him dead as to these things, a posterity like the stars of heaven for multitude, and like the sand on the sea shore which is innumerable. ¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they viewed them at a distance, and were persuaded of, and embraced them, and acknowledged that they were strangers and sojourners in the land. ¹⁴ For they who speak thus shew plainly that they are seeking their father's country: ¹⁵ Now had these been mindful of that from which they came out, they might have had an opportunity of returning thither: ¹⁶ but now they desire a better; that is a heavenly country; therefore God is not ashamed of them; to be invoked as their God: for he prepared a city for them. ¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was put to the trial, offered up Isaak. Though he had received the promises he offered up his only begotten son, ¹⁸ in respect to whom it had been said, that "in Isaak a seed shall be called for thee," ¹⁹ reckoning that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which in a figurative sense, he had received him. ²⁰ By faith respecting things to come Isaak blessed Jacob and Esau. ²¹ By faith Jacob, when a dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshipped, bowing upon the head of his staff. ²² By faith Joseph, at the close of his life, made mention of the departure of the Israelites, and gave a charge concerning his bones. ²³ By faith Moses, when he was born was concealed three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a comely child, and they were not terrified by the king's edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ chusing rather to suffer afflictions with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; ²⁶ accounting the reproach of the Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he had an eye to the reward. ²⁷ By faith he left Egypt in defiance of the king's wrath; for he persevered as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he celebrated the passover, and the pouring out of the blood, that the destroyer of the first born might not touch them. ²⁹ By faith they passed through the red sea as on dry ground, which the Egyptians attempting to do were swallowed up. ³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, when processions had been made around them, for seven days. ³¹ By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with the unbelievers, she having received the spies with peace. ³² And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to speak of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthae of David and Samuel, and the prophets, ³³ who by faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in battle, repelled armies of aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead children, by a restoration of them to life. As for others, some were tortured, not expecting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection; ³⁶ and others received the trial of mockings, and scourgings, besides bonds and imprisonments. ³⁷ They were stoned; they were sawn asunder; they were tempted; they were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheep skins, in goats skins, destitute, afflicted, tormented, ³⁸ [of whom the world was not worthy] wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth. ³⁹ Though these all received a testimonial by means of their belief, they did not obtain the promise, ⁴⁰ God having provided something better for us, that without us they should not be made perfect.