Hebrews 11:11-40

English Standard Version Anglicised

¹¹ By faith ^(A)Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered ^(B)him faithful who had promised. ¹² Therefore from one man, and ^(C)him as good as dead, were born descendants ^(D)as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

¹³ These all died in faith, ^(E)not having received the things promised, but ^(F)having seen them and greeted them from afar, and ^(G)having acknowledged that they were ^(H)strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, ^(I)they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed ^(J)to be called their God, for ^(K)he has prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By faith ^(L)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, ¹⁸ of whom it was said, ^(M)“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” ^19 (N)He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. ²⁰ By faith ^(O)Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. ²¹ By faith ^(P)Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^(Q)bowing in worship over the head of his staff. ²² By faith ^(R)Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

²³ By faith ^(S)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of ^(T)the king's edict. ²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was grown up, ^(U)refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ^25 (V)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^(W)the fleeting pleasures of sin. ^26 (X)He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to ^(Y)the reward. ²⁷ By faith he ^(Z)left Egypt, ^(AA)not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured ^(AB)as seeing him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith ^(AC)he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

²⁹ By faith ^(AD)the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. ³⁰ By faith ^(AE)the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. ³¹ By faith ^(AF)Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she ^(AG)had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

³² And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of ^(AH)Gideon, ^(AI)Barak, ^(AJ)Samson, ^(AK)Jephthah, of ^(AL)David and ^(AM)Samuel and the prophets— ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, ^(AN)stopped the mouths of lions, ^34 (AO)quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, ^(AP)became mighty in war, ^(AQ)put foreign armies to flight. ^35 (AR)Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. ³⁶ Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even ^(AS)chains and imprisonment. ^37 (AT)They were stoned, they were sawn in two,^{[a] (AU)}they were killed with the sword. ^(AV)They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy—^(AW)wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And all these, ^(AX)though commended through their faith, ^(AY)did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better for us, ^(AZ)that apart from us they should not be made perfect.