¹³ These all died in faith not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴ Those who say such things declare plainly that they are looking for a homeland. ¹⁵ And certainly, if they had been thinking of the country out of which they came, they might have had the opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.