Hebrews 11
The Triumphs of Faith
Now FAITH is THE CERTAINTY OF THINGS HOPED
FOR, a proof of things not seen.
2 For by
it the people of old gained approval.
3 By faith
we understand that the [world
has been created by THE
WORD OF GOD so that what is seen has not been made out of
things that are visible.
4 By
faith Abel offered to GOD a better sacrifice than Cain, through
which he was attested to be righteous, GOD testifying about
his gifts, and through faith, though he is dead, he still speaks.
5 By
faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; and he was
not found because GOD took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested
to have been pleasing to GOD.
6 And
without faith it is impossible to please HIM, for the one
who comes to GOD
must believe that HE exists, and that HE proves to be ONE WHO REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK
HIM.
7 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 By
faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place
which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where
he was going.
9 By faith
he lived as a stranger in the land of promise, as in a
foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;
10 for he
was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect
and builder is GOD.
11 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 Therefore
even from one man, and one who was as good as dead at
that, there were born descendants who were just as the stars
of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand
along the seashore.
13 All
these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen
and welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were
strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 For
those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of
their own.
15 And
indeed if they had been thinking of that country which
they left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 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 By
faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who
had received the promises was offering up his only son;
18 it
was he to whom it was said,
‘Through Isaac your descendants shall be named’.
19 He
considered that GOD is able to raise people even
from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.
20 By
faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.
21 By faith Jacob,
as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshiped, leaning on
the top of his staff.
22 By
faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of
Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
23 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 By faith
Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s
daughter,
25 choosing
rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of GOD than to enjoy
the temporary pleasures of sin,
26 considering
the reproach of CHRIST
greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to
the reward.
27 By faith
he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered,
as though seeing HIM WHO is unseen.
28 By faith
he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the
destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.
29 By faith
they passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians,
when they attempted it, were drowned.
30 By
faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the Israelites had
marched around them for seven days.
31 By faith
the prostitute Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient,
after she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32 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 who by
faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained
promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 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 Women
received back their dead by resurrection; and others were
tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better
resurrection;
36 and
others experienced mocking and flogging, and further, chains and
imprisonment.
37 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, tormented
38 (people of
whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts, on mountains,
and sheltering in caves and holes in the ground.
40 because GOD
had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they
would not be made perfect.”
through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 because GOD
had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they
would not be made perfect.”
