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Hebrews 11:4-31
New International Version
Hebrews 11:4-31
New International Version
4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended(A) as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.(B) And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.(C)
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”[a](D) For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him(E) must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen,(F) in holy fear built an ark(G) to save his family.(H) By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.(I)
8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance,(J) obeyed and went,(K) even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land(L) like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents,(M) as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.(N) 10 For he was looking forward to the city(O) with foundations,(P) whose architect and builder is God.(Q) 11 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age,(R) was enabled to bear children(S) because she[b] considered him faithful(T) who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead,(U) came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.(V)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised;(W) they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,(X) admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.(Y) 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.(Z) 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.(AA) Therefore God is not ashamed(AB) to be called their God,(AC) for he has prepared a city(AD) for them.
17 By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice.(AE) He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18 even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[c](AF) 19 Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead,(AG) and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.(AH)
21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons,(AI) and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.(AJ)
23 By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born,(AK) because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.(AL)
24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.(AM) 25 He chose to be mistreated(AN) along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace(AO) for the sake of Christ(AP) as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.(AQ) 27 By faith he left Egypt,(AR) not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer(AS) of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.(AT)
29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.(AU)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.(AV)
31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[d](AW)
Footnotes
- Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24
- Hebrews 11:11 Or By faith Abraham, even though he was too old to have children—and Sarah herself was not able to conceive—was enabled to become a father because he
- Hebrews 11:18 Gen. 21:12
- Hebrews 11:31 Or unbelieving
Hebrews 11:4-31
King James Version
Hebrews 11:4-31
King James Version
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
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