11 This is what it means to trust God: We will be sure about the things that we hope for. We will be sure in our minds about things that we cannot even see. 2 It was because of their faith that God said good things about the people of long ago. 3 Because of faith, we understand about how God made the universe. He spoke his word to make it happen. In that way, God made all the things that we can see. He made them from things that nobody could see.
4 Abel believed God. So he offered a better sacrifice to God than Cain did. And because of Abel's faith, God accepted him as right with him. God said that he was happy with Abel's gifts. Because Abel trusted God, we can still learn from his faith. Abel died long ago, but it is like he is still speaking to us. [ a ]
5 Enoch also believed God. Because of Enoch's faith, God took him away to heaven. He did not die like other people. As a result, nobody could ever find him, because God had taken him away. Before God took him away, it was clear that Enoch had made God happy. [ b ]
6 Unless we trust God, it is impossible for us to make God happy. Anyone who comes to God must believe that God is there. They must also believe that God helps everyone who wants to know him.
7 Noah believed God too. God told Noah about bad things that would happen. Nobody could see what would happen, but Noah believed God's message. He was careful to do exactly what God told him. He built a large ship to save his family. As a result of his faith, Noah showed that everyone else in the world was wrong. Noah himself became one of those people that God accepted as right with him. They are right with God because they trust him. [ c ]
8 Abraham also believed God. When God told him to leave his home, he obeyed God. He left his home to go to another country, but he did not know where he was going. It was the place that God had promised to give to Abraham. 9 Because of his faith, Abraham went to live like a stranger in that foreign country. God had promised to give that country to him, but Abraham lived there in tents. Isaac and Jacob also lived there in tents like strangers. God had also promised them that the land would belong to them one day. [ d ] 10 We see that Abraham was waiting to live in God's special place. That is the city that God himself has built. God has made it very strong so that it will be there for ever. [ e ]
11 Abraham and his wife, Sarah, were too old to have children. But Abraham believed God's promise that they would have children. He trusted God to do what he had promised. As a result of his faith, God made it possible for him and Sarah to have a baby. [ f ] 12 Abraham was so old that he was almost like a dead man. But from this one man there came very many grandchildren. His family became so large that nobody could count them. They were like the number of stars in the sky. They were as many as the bits of sand on the shore of the sea. [ g ]
13 All these people continued to believe God until they died. But they did not receive all the things that God had promised to give them. They were like people who saw those things far away. That made them happy. These people understood that they lived as strangers and travellers on the earth. 14 People who live in that way show that they expect to live somewhere else one day. That is the place where they will really be at home. 15 They were not thinking about the country that they had left. They could have gone back there if they really wanted to. 16 No, they wanted very much to go to a better place, in heaven. For that reason, God is not ashamed for them to call him their God. He has already prepared a city for them to live in.
17 Here is another example of Abraham's faith. God wanted to see whether Abraham really trusted him. Because Abraham believed God, he offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. God had promised Abraham that he would have many grandchildren. But Abraham was still ready to offer his only son as a sacrifice. 18 God had said to Abraham, ‘It is through Isaac that your family will continue.’ 19 But Abraham was sure that, if Isaac died, God could raise Isaac to life again. We could even say that is a picture of what really happened. It was like Abraham did receive Isaac back from death. [ h ]
20 Isaac himself also believed God. As a result of his faith, he asked God to bless his sons, Jacob and Esau. He trusted that God would help them in the future time. [ i ]
21 Jacob believed God. As a result of his faith, he asked God to bless each of Joseph's sons. Jacob did that when he was dying. At that time, he used his stick to hold himself up while he worshipped God. [ j ]
22 Joseph also believed God. At the end of his life, he spoke about what would happen to the family of Israel's people after his death. He understood that they would leave Egypt one day. As a result of his faith, he told his family where they should bury his bones. [ k ]
23 Moses' parents believed God. When Moses was born, they hid him for three months. They saw that he was a very special child. As a result of their faith, they did not obey Egypt's king. They were not afraid to do that. [ l ]
24 Moses himself also believed God. When he became a man, he refused to be called the son of the king's daughter. 25 Instead, Moses chose to join with God's people. He chose to receive trouble and pain together with them. He did not want to live in the king's house and do wrong things. He would only be happy for a short time there. [ m ] 26 Moses could have been very rich in Egypt. But instead, he let people insult him. He chose to receive trouble because of God's special Messiah. He thought that was worth more than if he had a lot of money. He thought carefully about what God would give him at a future time. [ n ] 27 As a result of his faith, Moses left Egypt. He knew that the king would be angry, but Moses was not afraid of him. Instead, he continued strongly to trust God. Nobody can see God, but Moses lived like someone who could see God. [ o ]
28 As a result of his faith, Moses told Israel's people to prepare the first Passover meal. He told them to put blood from the sacrifice round their doors. Then the angel who destroyed people came to every home. When he saw the blood, he did not kill the oldest sons in the families of Israel's people. [ p ]
29 Because of their faith, Israel's people walked across the Red Sea. They walked through there as if they were walking on dry land. But when the soldiers from Egypt tried to cross the same place, they drowned. [ q ]
30 Because of their faith, Israel's people marched round Jericho city for seven days. Then the city's walls fell down. [ r ]
31 Rahab, who had been a prostitute in Jericho, also trusted God. She helped the men from Israel who had come to that city earlier. They wanted to discover how to attack the city. Rahab was kind to them. As a result of her faith, she did not die with all the other people in Jericho who did not obey God. [ s ]
32 I could say even more about other people who trusted God. But there is not enough time to talk about all of them. I could tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and all the prophets. [ t ] 33 As a result of their faith, they did great things. Some of them won wars against other countries. Others ruled in a way that is right and fair. They received the good things that God had promised. Some of them caused lions to shut their mouths. [ u ] 34 Some of them put out fires that were burning very strongly. Some of them got away from people who wanted to kill them with a sword. Other people who were weak became strong. They became powerful to fight wars. They won against foreign armies so that those armies ran away. [ v ]
35 Some women who trusted God received their friends and family back from death. God raised those people who had died to become alive again. Other people refused to turn against God so that their enemies would not hurt them. As a result, their enemies killed them. These people agreed to die because they were sure that they would live again with God. They knew that would be better for them.
36 Other people who trusted God received insults. Some of them were hit with whips. Enemies of God tied these people up and they put them in prison. 37 Some of them died when people killed them with stones. Some of them died when people cut them into two pieces. Some of them died when people killed them with swords. Some of these people wore the skins of sheep and goats while they travelled about. They were very poor and they had a lot of trouble. People did bad things to them. 38 These people who trusted God were too good for this world. Some of them had to travel about in the wilderness and on the hills. Some had to live in holes in the rocks and in the ground.
39 God said good things about all these people because they trusted him. But they still did not receive everything that God had promised to give to them. [ w ] 40 God had already decided to prepare something better for all of us. As a result, those people did not receive everything until we could join with them. [ x ]
11 Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see. 2 God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago because they had faith like this.
3 Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by his command. This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen.
4 Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said he was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
5 Enoch was carried away from this earth, so he never died. The Scriptures tell us that before he was carried off, he was a man who pleased God. Later, no one knew where he was, because God had taken Enoch to be with him. This all happened because he had faith. 6 Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.
7 Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
8 God called Abraham to travel to another place that he promised to give him. Abraham did not know where that other place was. But he obeyed God and started traveling because he had faith. 9 Abraham lived in the country that God promised to give him. He lived there like a visitor who did not belong. He did this because he had faith. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who also received the same promise from God. 10 Abraham was waiting for the city [ a ] that has real foundations. He was waiting for the city that is planned and built by God.
11 Sarah was not able to have children, and Abraham was too old. But he had faith in God, trusting him to do what he promised. And so God made them able to have children. 12 Abraham was so old he was almost dead. But from that one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. So many people came from him that they are like grains of sand on the seashore.
13 All these great people continued living with faith until they died. They did not get the things God promised his people. But they were happy just to see those promises coming far in the future. They accepted the fact that they were like visitors and strangers here on earth. 14 When people accept something like that, they show they are waiting for a country that will be their own. 15 If they were thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back. 16 But they were waiting for a better country—a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God. And he has prepared a city for them.
17-18 God tested Abraham’s faith. God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed because he had faith. He already had the promises from God. And God had already said to him, “It is through Isaac that your descendants will come.” [ b ] But Abraham was ready to offer his only son. He did this because he had faith. 19 He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death.
20 Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. He did that because he had faith. 21 And Jacob, also because he had faith, blessed each one of Joseph’s sons. He did this while he was dying, leaning on his rod and worshiping God.
22 And when Joseph was almost dead, he spoke about the people of Israel leaving Egypt. And he told them what they should do with his body. He did this because he had faith.
23 And the mother and father of Moses hid him for three months after he was born. They did this because they had faith. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby. And they were not afraid to disobey the king’s order.
24-25 Moses grew up and became a man. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose not to enjoy the pleasures of sin that last such a short time. Instead, he chose to suffer with God’s people. He did this because he had faith. 26 He thought it was better to suffer for the Messiah than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was waiting for the reward that God would give him.
27 Moses left Egypt because he had faith. He was not afraid of the king’s anger. He continued strong as if he could see the God no one can see. 28 Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doorways of the people of Israel, so that the angel of death [ c ] would not kill their firstborn sons. Moses did this because he had faith.
29 And God’s people all walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. They were able to do this because they had faith. But when the Egyptians tried to follow them, they were drowned.
30 And the walls of Jericho fell because of the faith of God’s people. They marched around the walls for seven days, and then the walls fell.
31 And Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the Israelite spies like friends. And because of her faith, she was not killed with the ones who refused to obey.
32 Do I need to give you more examples? I don’t have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 33 All of them had great faith. And with that faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, and God helped them in the ways he promised. With their faith some people closed the mouths of lions. 34 And some were able to stop blazing fires. Others escaped from being killed with swords. Some who were weak were made strong. They became powerful in battle and defeated other armies. 35 There were women who lost loved ones but got them back when they were raised from death. Others were tortured but refused to accept their freedom. They did this so that they could be raised from death to a better life. 36 Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were tied up and put in prison. 37 They were killed with stones. They were cut in half. They were killed with swords. The only clothes some of them had were sheepskins or goatskins. They were poor, persecuted, and treated badly by others. 38 The world was not good enough for these great people. They had to wander in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
39 God was pleased with all of them because of their faith. But not one of them received God’s great promise. 40 God planned something better for us. He wanted to make us perfect. Of course, he wanted those great people to be made perfect too, but not before we could all enjoy that blessing together.
11 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.
11 Now faith is the ( A ) certainty of things [ a ] ( B ) hoped for, a [ b ] proof of ( C ) things not seen. 2 For by it the ( D ) people of old [ c ] ( E ) gained approval.
3 By faith we understand that the [ d ] ( F ) world has been created ( G ) by the word of God so that what is seen ( H ) has not been made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith ( I ) Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was ( J ) attested to be righteous, God testifying [ e ] about his ( K ) gifts, and through [ f ] faith, though ( L ) he is dead, he still speaks. 5 By faith ( M ) Enoch was taken up so that he would not ( N ) 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 ( O ) comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. 7 By faith ( P ) Noah, being ( Q ) warned by God about ( R ) things not yet seen, [ g ] ( S ) in reverence ( T ) prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ( U ) the righteousness which is according to faith.
8 By faith ( V ) Abraham, when he was called, obeyed [ h ] by going out to a place which he was to ( W ) receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he lived as a stranger in ( X ) the land of promise, as in a foreign land , ( Y ) living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ( Z ) fellow heirs of the same promise; 10 for he was looking for ( AA ) the city which has ( AB ) foundations, ( AC ) whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith even ( AD ) Sarah herself received [ i ] ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ( AE ) faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore even from one man, and ( AF ) one who was as good as dead [ j ] at that, there were born descendants who were ( AG ) just as the stars of heaven in number, and as the innumerable grains of sand along the seashore.
13 ( AH ) All these died in faith, ( AI ) without receiving the promises, but ( AJ ) having seen and welcomed them from a distance, and ( AK ) 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 [ k ] thinking of that country which they left, ( AL ) they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country , that is, a ( AM ) heavenly one. Therefore ( AN ) God is not [ l ] ashamed to be ( AO ) called their God; for ( AP ) He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith ( AQ ) Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and the one who had ( AR ) received the promises was offering up his [ m ] only son ; 18 it was he to whom it was said, “ ( AS ) Through Isaac your [ n ] descendants shall be named .” 19 [ o ] He considered that ( AT ) God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back [ p ] as a [ q ] ( AU ) type. 20 By faith ( AV ) Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come. 21 By faith ( AW ) Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ( AX ) worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. 22 By faith ( AY ) Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
23 By faith ( AZ ) 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 ( BA ) king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, ( BB ) when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to ( BC ) endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the temporary pleasures of sin, 26 ( BD ) considering the [ r ] reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ( BE ) reward. 27 By faith he ( BF ) left Egypt, not ( BG ) fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as though ( BH ) seeing Him who is unseen. 28 By faith he [ s ] ( BI ) kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ( BJ ) the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them. 29 By faith they ( BK ) passed through the Red Sea as through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were [ t ] drowned.
30 By faith ( BL ) the walls of Jericho fell down [ u ] ( BM ) after the Israelites had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute ( BN ) Rahab did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies [ v ] in peace.
32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ( BO ) Gideon, ( BP ) Barak, ( BQ ) Samson, ( BR ) Jephthah, of ( BS ) David and ( BT ) Samuel and the prophets, 33 who by faith ( BU ) conquered kingdoms, ( BV ) performed acts of righteousness, ( BW ) obtained promises, ( BX ) shut the mouths of lions, 34 ( BY ) quenched the power of fire, ( BZ ) escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ( CA ) became mighty in war, ( CB ) put foreign armies to flight. 35 ( CC ) Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their [ w ] release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; 36 and others [ x ] experienced mocking and flogging, and further, ( CD ) chains and imprisonment. 37 They were ( CE ) stoned, they were sawn in two, [ y ] they were tempted, they were ( CF ) put to death with the sword; they went about ( CG ) in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ( CH ) tormented 38 ( people of whom the world was not worthy), ( CI ) wandering in deserts, on mountains, and sheltering in caves and holes [ z ] in the ground.
39 And all these, having ( CJ ) gained approval through their faith, ( CK ) did not receive [ aa ] what was promised, 40 because God had [ ab ] provided ( CL ) something better for us, so that ( CM ) apart from us they would not be made perfect.
11 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for ( A ) and assurance about what we do not see. ( B ) 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. ( C )
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, ( D ) so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended ( E ) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. ( F ) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. ( G )
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” [ a ] ( H ) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him ( I ) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, ( J ) in holy fear built an ark ( K ) to save his family. ( L ) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. ( M )
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, ( N ) obeyed and went, ( O ) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land ( P ) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, ( Q ) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. ( R ) 10 For he was looking forward to the city ( S ) with foundations, ( T ) whose architect and builder is God. ( U ) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, ( V ) was enabled to bear children ( W ) because she [ b ] considered him faithful ( X ) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, ( Y ) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. ( Z )
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; ( AA ) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, ( AB ) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ( AC ) 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ( AD ) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. ( AE ) Therefore God is not ashamed ( AF ) to be called their God, ( AG ) for he has prepared a city ( AH ) for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. ( AI ) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” [ c ] ( AJ ) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, ( AK ) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. ( AL )
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, ( AM ) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. ( AN )
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, ( AO ) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. ( AP )
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. ( AQ ) 25 He chose to be mistreated ( AR ) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace ( AS ) for the sake of Christ ( AT ) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ( AU ) 27 By faith he left Egypt, ( AV ) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer ( AW ) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. ( AX )
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. ( AY )
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. ( AZ )
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. [ d ] ( BA )
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, ( BB ) Barak, ( BC ) Samson ( BD ) and Jephthah, ( BE ) about David ( BF ) and Samuel ( BG ) and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, ( BH ) administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ( BI ) 34 quenched the fury of the flames, ( BJ ) and escaped the edge of the sword; ( BK ) whose weakness was turned to strength; ( BL ) and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ( BM ) 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. ( BN ) There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, ( BO ) and even chains and imprisonment. ( BP ) 37 They were put to death by stoning; [ e ] ( BQ ) they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. ( BR ) They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, ( BS ) destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves ( BT ) and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended ( BU ) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ( BV ) 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us ( BW ) would they be made perfect. ( BX )
