By faith Abel offered to God a greater sacrifice than Cain, by which he was approved that he was righteous, because[a] God approved him for his gifts, and through it[b] he still speaks, although he[c] is dead. By faith Enoch was taken up, so that he did not experience death, and he was not found, because God took him up. For before his removal, he had been approved as having been pleasing[d] to God. Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him. By faith Noah, having been warned about things not yet seen, out of reverence constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family, by which he pronounced sentence on the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal participle (“was”)
  2. Hebrews 11:4 I.e., his faith
  3. Hebrews 11:4 Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“is dead”) which is understood as concessive
  4. Hebrews 11:5 Literally “to be pleasing”

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)

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. 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.

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:5 Gen. 5:24