Hebrews 11:32-40

Contemporary English Version

^32 (A) What else can I say? There isn't enough time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. ^33 (B) Their faith helped them conquer kingdoms, and because they did right, God made promises to them. They closed the jaws of lions ^34 (C) and put out raging fires and escaped from the swords of their enemies. Although they were weak, they were given the strength and power to chase foreign armies away.

^35 (D) Some women received their loved ones back from death. Many of these people were tortured, but they refused to be released. They were sure they would get a better reward when the dead are raised to life. ^36 (E) Others were made fun of and beaten with whips, and some were chained in jail. ^37 (F) Still others were stoned to death or sawed in two^[a] or killed with swords. Some had nothing but sheep skins or goat skins to wear. They were poor, mistreated, and tortured. ³⁸ The world did not deserve these good people, who had to wander in deserts and on mountains and had to live in caves and holes in the ground.

³⁹ All of them pleased God because of their faith! But still they died without being given what had been promised. ⁴⁰ This was because God had something better in store for us. And he did not want them to reach the goal of their faith without us.