¶ Now faith¹ is the² substance³ of things hoped⁴ for, the evidence⁵ of things not seen.

For by it the elders⁶ obtained a good report.

Through faith⁷ 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.

¶ By faith⁸ Abel offered unto God a more⁹ excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained¹⁰ witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by¹¹ it he being dead yet speaketh¹².

By faith Enoch¹³ was translated¹⁴ that he should not see death; and was¹⁵ not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony¹⁶, that he¹⁷ pleased God.

But without¹⁸ faith it is impossible to please him: for he that¹⁹ cometh to God must²⁰ believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder²¹ of them that diligently²² seek him.

By faith Noah²³, being warned²⁵ of God of things²⁶ not seen as yet, moved with fear²⁷, prepared²⁸ an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned²⁹ the world, and became heir of the righteousness³⁰ which is by faith.

By faith Abraham³¹, when he was called to go out into a place which³² he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed³³; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he sojourned³⁴ in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling³⁵ in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs³⁶ with him of the same promise:

¶ For he looked³⁷ for a city which hath foundations, whose³⁸ builder and maker is God.

Through faith also Sara³⁹ herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because⁴⁰ she judged him faithful who had promised.

Therefore sprang there even of one, and him⁴¹ as good as dead, so many as the stars⁴² of the sky in multitude, and as the sand⁴³ which is by the sea shore innumerable.

These all died⁴⁴ in faith⁴⁵, not having received the promises, but⁴⁶ having seen them afar off, and were⁴⁷ persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed⁴⁸ that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek⁴⁹ a country.

And truly, if they had been mindful⁵⁰ of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

But now they desire⁵¹ a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is⁵² not ashamed to be⁵³ called their God: for⁵⁴ he hath prepared for them a city.

By faith⁵⁵ Abraham, when⁵⁶ he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received⁵⁷ the promises offered⁵⁸ up his only⁵⁹ begotten son,

Of⁶⁰ whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Accounting that God⁶¹ was able to raise him up, even from the⁶² dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

¶⁶³By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

By faith⁶⁴ Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped⁶⁵, leaning upon the top of his staff.

By faith⁶⁶ Joseph, when he died, made mention of⁶⁷ the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

By faith⁶⁸ Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child⁶⁹; and they⁷⁰ were not afraid of the king's⁷¹ commandment.

By faith Moses, when⁷² he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

Choosing⁷³ rather to suffer affliction with the people⁷⁴ of God, than to enjoy the pleasures⁷⁵ of sin for a season;

Esteeming the reproach⁷⁶ of Christ⁷⁷ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had⁷⁸ respect unto the recompence of the reward.

By faith he forsook⁷⁹ Egypt, not fearing⁸⁰ the wrath of the king: for he endured⁸¹, as seeing⁸² him who is invisible.

Through faith he kept⁸³ the passover, and the sprinkling⁸⁴ of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

⁸⁵By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

¶⁸⁶By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

By faith the harlot⁸⁷ Rahab perished not with them that believed not⁸⁸, when she had⁸⁹ received the spies with peace.

¶ And what shall⁹⁰ I more say? for the time⁹¹ would fail me to tell of Gedeon⁹², and of Barak, and of Samson⁹⁵, and of Jephthae⁹⁶; of David also, and Samuel⁹⁸, and of the prophets⁹⁹:

Who through¹⁰⁰ faith subdued kingdoms, wrought¹⁰¹ righteousness, obtained¹⁰² promises, stopped¹⁰³ the mouths of lions,

Quenched¹⁰⁴ the violence of fire, escaped¹⁰⁵ the edge of the sword, out of¹⁰⁶ weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned¹⁰⁷ to flight the armies of the aliens.

Women¹⁰⁸ received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured¹⁰⁹, not accepting¹¹⁰ deliverance; that they¹¹¹ might obtain a better resurrection:

And others had trial of cruel mockings¹¹² and scourgings¹¹³, yea, moreover of bonds¹¹⁴ and imprisonment:

They were stoned¹¹⁵, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain¹¹⁶ with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins¹¹⁷ and goatskins; being destitute¹¹⁸, afflicted, tormented;

(Of whom¹¹⁹ the world was not worthy:) they wandered¹²⁰ in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

¹²¹And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

¶ God having provided¹²² some better thing for us, that they without¹²³ us should not be made¹²⁴ perfect.