1 Faith is a sure confidence of things which are hoped for, and a certainty of things which are not seen. 2 By it the elders were well reported of.
3 Through faith we understand that the world was ordained, by the word of God: and that things which are seen, were made of things which are not seen.
4 By faith, Abel offered unto God a more plenteous sacrifice than Cain: by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: by which also he being dead, yet speaketh.
5 By faith was Enoch translated that he should not see death; neither was he found, for God had taken him away. Before he was taken away, he was reported of that he had pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: For he that cometh to God, must believe that God is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek him.
7 By faith Noah honoured God, after that he was warned of things which were not seen, and prepared the ark to the saving of his household, through the which ark he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which cometh by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out into a place which he should afterward receive to inheritance, and he went out, not knowing whither he should go. 9 By faith he removed into the land that was promised him, as into a strange country, and dwelt in tabernacles: and so did Isaac, and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for a city having a foundation, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith Sarah also received strength to be with child, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful which had promised. 12 And therefore sprang thereof one - and of one which was as good as dead - so many in multitude, as the stars of the sky, and as the sand of the sea shore which is innumerable.
13 And they all died in faith, and received not the promises: but saw them afar off, and believed them, and saluted them: and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 They that say such things, declare that they seek a country. 15 Also, if they had been mindful of that country, from whence they came out, they had leisure to have returned again. 16 But now they desire a better, that is to say a heavenly. Wherefore God is not ashamed of them, even to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham offered up Isaac, when he was tempted, and he offered him being his only begotten son, which had received the promises: 18 Of whom it was said, "In Isaac shall thy seed be called." 19 For he considered that God was able to raise up again from death. Wherefore received he him, for an example of the resurrection.
20 In faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, as concerning things to come. 21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and bowed himself toward the top of his scepter. 22 By faith Joseph, when he died, remembered the departing of the children of Israel, and gave commandment of his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his father and mother, because they saw he was a proper child: neither feared they the king's commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was of a great age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 and chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, 26 and esteemed the rebuke of Christ greater riches, than the treasure of Egypt. For he had a respect unto the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, and feared not the fierceness of the king. For he endured, even as he had seen him which is invisible. 28 Through faith he ordained the Easter lamb, and the effusion of blood, lest he that destroyed the first born should touch them. 29 By faith they passed through the reed sea as by dry land, which when the Egyptians had assayed to do, they 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 unbelievers, when she had received the spies to lodging peaceably.
32 And what shall I more say? The time would be too short for me to tell of Gideon, of Barach, and of Samson, and of Jephthah. Also of David and Samuel, and of the prophets, 33 which through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained the promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, of weak were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 And the women received their dead raised to life again. Others were racked, and would not be delivered, that they might receive a better resurrection. 36 Others tasted of mockings, and scourgings, moreover of bonds and prisonment: 37 were stoned, were hewn asunder, were tempted, were slain with swords, walked up and down in sheep skins, in goat skins, in need, tribulation, and vexation, 38 which the world was not worthy of: They wandered in wilderness, in mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, through faith, obtained good report, and received not the promise; 40 God providing a better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.