Hebrews 11:19-12:2

English Standard Version

¹⁹^(A)He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. ²⁰By faith ^(B)Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. ²¹By faith ^(C)Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^(D)bowing in worship over the head of his staff. ²²By faith ^(E)Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

²³By faith ^(F)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 ^(G)the king's edict. ²⁴By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^(H)refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵^(I)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^(J)the fleeting pleasures of sin. ²⁶^(K)He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^(L)the reward. ²⁷By faith he ^(M)left Egypt, ^(N)not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^(O)as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸By faith ^(P)he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

²⁹By faith ^(Q)the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. ³⁰By faith ^(R)the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹By faith ^(S)Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^(T)had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

³²And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^(U)Gideon, ^(V)Barak, ^(W)Samson, ^(X)Jephthah, of ^(Y)David and ^(Z)Samuel and the prophets— ³³who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^(AA)stopped the mouths of lions, ³⁴^(AB)quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, ^(AC)became mighty in war, ^(AD)put foreign armies to flight. ³⁵^(AE)Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even ^(AF)chains and imprisonment. ³⁷^(AG)They were stoned, they were sawn in two,^[a] ^(AH)they were killed with the sword. ^(AI)They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— ³⁸of whom the world was not worthy—^(AJ)wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

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

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and ^(AN)sin which clings so closely, and ^(AO)let us run ^(AP)with endurance the race that is ^(AQ)set before us, ²looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ^(AR)who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising ^(AS)the shame, and ^(AT)is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.