Hebrews 11:2-28
English Standard Version
Chapter 11
2For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
4By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
6And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
7By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By 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 a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.
12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
15If they had been thinking of that land 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 for them a city.
17By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
18of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."
19He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
20By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.
21By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months 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 was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh 's daughter,
25choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
27By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
28By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
