By Faith

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of ^(A)things not seen. ² For by it the people of old received their commendation.

¹³ These all died in faith, ^(A)not having received the things promised, but ^(B)having seen them and greeted them from afar, and ^(C)having acknowledged that they were ^(D)strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, ^(E)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(F)to be called their God, for ^(G)he has prepared for them a city.

³² And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^(A)Gideon, ^(B)Barak, ^(C)Samson, ^(D)Jephthah, of ^(E)David and ^(F)Samuel and the prophets— ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^(G)stopped the mouths of lions, ^34 (H)quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, ^(I)became mighty in war, ^(J)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (K)Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even ^(L)chains and imprisonment. ^37 (M)They were stoned, they were sawn in two,^{[a] (N)}they were killed with the sword. ^(O)They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—^(P)wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, ^(Q)though commended through their faith, ^(R)did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better for us, ^(S)that apart from us they should not be made perfect.