By faith (A)Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was (B)attested to be righteous, God testifying [a]about his (C)gifts, and through [b]faith, though (D)he is dead, he still speaks. By faith (E)Enoch was taken up so that he would not (F)see death; and he was not found because God took him up; for before he was taken up, he was attested to have been pleasing to God. And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who (G)comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. By faith (H)Noah, being (I)warned by God about (J)things not yet seen, [c](K)in reverence (L)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of (M)the righteousness which is according to faith.

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Footnotes

  1. Hebrews 11:4 I.e., by receiving his gifts
  2. Hebrews 11:4 Lit it
  3. Hebrews 11:7 Or was reverent and prepared

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.”[a] For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

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Footnotes

  1. 11:5 Gen 5:24.