1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the conviction or belief in things not seen. 2This is what the people of old were commended for. 3By faith, we understand and believe that the universe was formed by the word (command) of God, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith, Abel offered a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did, and his gifts were approved by God; he was regarded as righteous when God spoke well of his gifts; and although Abel has long been dead, he yet speaks to us by the example of his faith. 5By faith, Enoch was translated (taken up by God), so that he did not experience death, and could not be found; God had taken him; because before his translation, he was commended as having pleased God. (Gen.5:24) 6And without faith, it is impossible to please God; for whoever comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him. 7By faith, Noah, when warned by God of things not yet ever seen, moved with reverence and prepared an ark to save his household. By acting upon his faith, he condemned the rest of the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is attained by faith.

8By faith, Abraham, when he was called to leave home and go to a place, which he would later receive as an inheritance, he obeyed; and went out, though he did not know where he was being sent. 9By faith, he sojourned in that land promised to him, like a visitor in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise; 10For he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. 11By faith, even Sarah, who was far beyond childbearing age, was also enabled to conceive and bear a child, because she believed God, Who had made the promise, to be faithful. 12And so, there sprang from this one man, Abraham - and him as good as dead (100 years old), as many descendants in number as the stars of the sky, and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the sea shore. 13All these people were living by faith when they died; not having received what was promised, but having seen and welcomed them from afar, and were assured of and embraced them, and acknowledged that they were mere strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those that say such things show plainly that they are looking for a country they can call their own. 15And indeed, if they had been thinking and longing for that country that they had come out of, they had opportunity to return to it. 16But instead, they desired 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 God tested him, offered up Isaac as a sacrifice: he that had received and embraced the promises, offered up his only begotten son, 18Even though God had said, “It is through Isaac that your seed shall be called.” (Gen.21:12); 19Abraham reasoned that even if Isaac died, God was able to raise the dead; and so, in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from the dead. 20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith, Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both sons of Joseph; and bowed and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith, Joseph, when he was about to die, spoke confidently of the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt; and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones when they left.

23By faith, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict to slay all male newborns. 24By faith, Moses, when he had grown to manhood, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25Choosing to be mistreated along with the people of God, rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, 26Esteeming the disgrace for the sake of Christ of greater value than the treasures in Egypt; for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith, he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s wrath; and he persevered, as he saw Him Who is invisible. 28By faith, he kept the Passover, and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted to do the same, they were drowned. 30By faith, the people of Israel marched around the walls of Jericho seven days, and then the walls came crashing down. 31By faith, the harlot, Rahab, did not die with the unbelievers of Jericho, because she had welcomed the Israel spies (saying, “I know that the LORD has given you the land”).

32And what more shall I say? For time would not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33Who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the fury of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; their weakness being made strength, valiant in battle, routing enemy armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again; there were others who were tortured, refusing to turn from God, in order to obtain a better resurrection: 36And others faced cruel mockings, floggings, chains and imprisonment; 37They were stoned to death, sawed in two, and killed by the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; destitute, oppressed, and mistreated 38The world was not worthy of these faithful martyrs. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth. 39And these were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what God had promised, 40Since God had planned something better for us, so that we would reach perfection together with them.