⁷ By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,^(A) in holy fear built an ark^(B) to save his family.^(C) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.^(D)

⁸ By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,^(E) obeyed and went,^(F) even though he did not know where he was going. ⁹ By faith he made his home in the promised land^(G) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,^(H) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.^{(I) 10} For he was looking forward to the city^(J) with foundations,^(K) whose architect and builder is God.^{(L) 11} And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,^(M) was enabled to bear children^(N) because she^[a] considered him faithful^(O) who had made the promise. ¹² And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,^(P) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.^(Q)

¹³ All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;^(R) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,^(S) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.^{(T) 14} People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.^{(U) 16} Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.^(V) Therefore God is not ashamed^(W) to be called their God,^(X) for he has prepared a city^(Y) for them.

³⁹ These were all commended^(A) for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised,^(B)

⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us^(A) would they be made perfect.^(B)