Now faith is substance of [things] hoped for, demonstration of things not seen.
For in [virtue of] this the elders were witnessed of.
By faith we apprehend that the worlds were framed by God’s word, so that the [things] beheld have not derived their being out of [things] apparent.
By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which it was witnessed that he was righteous, God witnessing in respect of his gifts; and through it he, having died, yet speaketh.
By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death, and was not found because God translated him; for before the translation, it hath been witnessed that he had pleased God.
But apart from faith [it is] impossible to please [him], for he that approacheth to God must believe that he is, and becometh a rewarder of those that seek him out.
By faith Noah, oracularly warned of things not yet beheld, moved with fear, constructed an ark for saving his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness that is according to faith.
By faith Abraham, when called, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance, and went out not knowing where he was going.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as not his own, dwelling as he did in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the joint-heirs of the same promise;
for he waited for the city that hath the foundations, of which God is architect and master-builder.
By faith also Sarah herself received power for deposition of seed even beyond season of age, since she counted faithful him that promised.
Wherefore also there were born from one, and that one become dead, even as the stars of the heaven in multitude, and as the countless sand that is by the sea-shore.
All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and greeted, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth.
For they that say such things make plain that they seek out a country.
And if indeed they called to mind that from which they went out, they might have had opportunity to return;
but now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he prepared for them a city.
By faith Abraham when tried offered up Isaac, and he that received to himself the promises was offering his only-begotten
as to whom it was spoken, In Isaac shall thy seed be called;
accounting that God [is] able to raise even from out of dead [men], whence also he received him back in parable.
By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
By faith Jacob when dying blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and worshipped on the top of his staff.
By faith Joseph when ending life called to mind the going forth of the sons of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.
By faith Moses when born was hid three months by his parents, because they saw the child beautiful; and they did not fear the order of the king.
By faith Moses when become great refused to be called son of Pharaoh’s daughter,
choosing rather to be ill-treated with the people of God than to have temporary pleasure of sin,
counting the Christ’s reproach greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he looked off unto the recompense.
By faith he left Egypt, not afraid of the wrath of the king; for he persevered as seeing the Invisible.
By faith he hath celebrated the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
By faith they passed through the Red Sea, as through dry land, of which the Egyptians made trial and were swallowed up.
By faith the walls of Jericho fell, having been encircled seven days.
By faith Rahab the harlot perished not along with the disobedient, having received the spies with peace.
And what more do I say? For the time would fail me telling of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets;
who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped lions’ mouths,
quenched fire’s power, escaped sword’s edge, were strengthened from weakness, became mighty in war, put to flight armies of aliens.
Women received their dead again by resurrection; and others were tortured, not having accepted their deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection;
and others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yea and of bonds and imprisonment.
They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they died by slaughter of sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated
(of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and the chinks of the earth.
And these all having been witnessed of through their faith received not the promise,
God having foreseen some better thing concerning us, that apart from us they should not be perfected.