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. ³ By faith we understand that the universe was created by ^(B)the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of ^(C)things that are visible.

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.