¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the things promised,^[a] but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners^[b] on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is,^[c] they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.