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By Faith

¹ Now faith is the ^(F1)(C1)assurance of things ^(F2)(C2)hoped for, the ^(F3)conviction of ^(C3)things not seen.² For by it the ^(F1)(C1)men of old ^(F2)(C2)gained approval.

³ By faith we understand that the ^(F1)(C1)worlds were prepared ^(C2)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(C3)was not made out of things which are visible.⁴ By faith ^(C1)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he ^(C2)was approved as being righteous—God approving ^(F1)his ^(C3)gifts—and through ^(F2)faith, though ^(C4)he is dead, he still speaks.⁵ By faith ^(C1)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ^(C2)see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for prior to being taken up, he was approved as being pleasing to God.⁶ And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who ^(C1)draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.⁷ By faith ^(C1)Noah, being ^(C2)warned about ^(C3)things not yet seen, ^(F1)(C4)in reverence ^(C5)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(C6)the righteousness which is according to faith.

⁸ By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^(F1)by going out to a place which he was to ^(C2)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.⁹ By faith he sojourned in ^(C1)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(C2)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(C3)fellow heirs of the same promise,¹⁰ for he was looking for ^(C1)the city which has ^(C2)foundations, ^(C3)whose architect and builder is God.¹¹ By faith even ^(C1)Sarah herself ^(F1)received ^(F2)ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she regarded Him ^(C2)faithful who had promised.¹² Therefore there were born even of one man, and ^(C1)him as good as dead ^(F1)at that, as many ^(C2)AS THE STARS OF HEAVEN IN NUMBER, AND INNUMERABLE AS THE SAND WHICH IS BY THE SEASHORE.

^13 (C1)All these died in faith, ^(C2)without receiving the promises, but ^(C3)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and ^(C4)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 remembering that country from which they went out, ^(C1)they would have had opportunity to return.¹⁶ But now, they aspire to a better country, that is, a ^(C1)heavenly one. Therefore ^(C2)God is not ^(F1)ashamed to be ^(C3)called their God, for ^(C4)He prepared a city for them.

¹⁷ By faith ^(C1)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(C2)received the promises was offering up his only son,¹⁸ to whom it was said, "^(C1)IN ISAAC YOUR SEED SHALL BE CALLED."^19 (F1)He considered that ^(C1)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which, ^(F2)(C2)figuratively speaking, he also received him back.²⁰ By faith ^(C1)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.²¹ By faith ^(C1)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(C2)WORSHIPED, leaning ON THE TOP OF HIS STAFF.²² By faith ^(C1)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave commands concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(C1)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 ^(C2)king's edict.²⁴ By faith Moses, ^(C1)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,²⁵ choosing rather to ^(C1)be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,^26 (C1)regarding the reproach of ^(F1)Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(C2)reward.²⁷ By faith he ^(C1)left Egypt, not ^(C2)fearing the rage of the king; for he endured, as ^(C3)seeing Him who is unseen.²⁸ By faith he ^(F1)(C1)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(C2)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.²⁹ By faith they ^(C1)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land, and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^(F1)drowned.

³⁰ By faith ^(C1)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(C2)after they had been encircled for seven days.³¹ By faith ^(C1)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after welcoming the spies ^(F1)in peace.

³² And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I recount ^(C1)Gideon, ^(C2)Barak, ^(C3)Samson, ^(C4)Jephthah, as well as ^(C5)David and ^(C6)Samuel and the prophets,³³ who through faith ^(C1)conquered kingdoms, ^(C2)performed righteousness, ^(C3)obtained promises, ^(C4)shut the mouths of lions,^34 (C1)quenched the power of fire, ^(C2)escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong from weakness, ^(C3)became mighty in war, ^(C3)put foreign armies to flight.^35 (C1)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^(F1)release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;³⁶ and others ^(F1)experienced mockings and floggings, yes, also ^(C1)chains and imprisonment.³⁷ They were ^(C1)stoned, they were ^(C2)sawn in two, ^(F1)they were tempted, they were ^(C3)put to death with the sword. They went about ^(C4)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(C5)mistreated³⁸ (of whom the world was not worthy), ^(C1)wandering in desolate places and mountains and caves and holes ^(F1)in the ground.

³⁹ And all these, having ^(F1)(C1)gained approval through their faith, ^(C2)did not receive ^(F2)what was promised,⁴⁰ because God had ^(F1)provided ^(C1)something better for us, so that ^(C2)apart from us they would not be made perfect.