1Now faith is the confidence of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.2For by it the elders received approval.3By faith we understand that the ages were completed by the declaration of God, so that what is seen has come into being not from things that appear.4By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through it he was testified to be just when God testified upon his gifts; and through it, though he died, he still speaks.5By faith Enoch was transported so that he would not see death, and he was not found because God had transported him; for before his removal he has been testified to have pleased God.6Without faith it is then impossible to please God, for whoever draws near to God must trust that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.7By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, prepared an ark in reverent fear for the salvation of his household; through this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.8By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place that he would receive as an inheritance, and he went out without knowing where he was going.9By faith he lived as a stranger in the land of the promise as though it were foreign, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise.10For he was waiting for the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.11By faith Sarah herself also received power to conceive seed even when she was past the proper age, because she considered the one who had promised to be faithful.12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, descendants were born as many as the stars of heaven in multitude and as the innumerable sand beside the seashore.13All these died in faith without having received the promises, but having seen them from afar and greeted them and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.14For people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.15If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.16But 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.17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac; he was ready to offer his only son, the one who had received the promises.18He had been told, 'Through Isaac your offspring will be named.'19He reasoned that God was able even to raise the dead, and in a sense he did receive Isaac back from death.20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph and bowed in worship over the head of his staff.22By faith Joseph, near the end of his life, spoke about the exodus of the sons of Israel and gave instructions concerning his bones.23By faith Moses was hidden for three months after his birth by his parents because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.25He chose rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.26He considered the reproach of the Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward.27By faith he left Egypt without fearing the king's anger, for he persevered as though he saw the invisible one.28By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of blood so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch them.29By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted the same they were swallowed up.30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after the people had marched around them for seven days.31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.32And what more shall I say? Time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.33Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, and shut the mouths of lions.34They quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight.35Women received their dead by resurrection; others were tortured, refusing to accept release so that they might obtain a better resurrection.36Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment.37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and ill-treated.38The world was not worthy of them; they wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.39All these were commended through their faith, yet none of them received the promise.40God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect apart from us.