By Faith
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For by it the people of old received their commendation.
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By faith we understand that the universe was created by 2the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of 3things that are visible.
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By faith 4Abel offered to God 5a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And 6through his faith, though he died, he 7still speaks.
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By faith 8Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.
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And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God 9must believe that he exists and 10that he rewards those who seek him.
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By faith 11Noah, being warned by God concerning 12events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of 13the righteousness that comes by faith.
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By faith 14Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place 15that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
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By faith he went to live in 16the land of promise, as in a foreign land, 17living in tents 18with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
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For he was looking forward to 19the city that has 20foundations, 21whose designer and builder is God.
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By faith 22Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered 23him faithful who had promised.
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Therefore from one man, and 24him as good as dead, were born descendants 25as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
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These all died in faith, 26not having received the things promised, but 27having seen them and greeted them from afar, and 28having acknowledged that they were 29strangers and exiles on the earth.
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For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
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If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, 30they would have had opportunity to return.
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But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed 31to be called their God, for 32he has prepared for them a city.
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By faith 33Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,
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35He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
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By faith 37Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, 38bowing in worship over the head of his staff.
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By faith 39Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
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By faith 40Moses, 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 41the king's edict.
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43choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy 44the fleeting pleasures of sin.
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45He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to 46the reward.
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By faith he 47left Egypt, 48not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured 49as seeing him who is invisible.
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By faith 50he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
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By faith 51the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.
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By faith 53Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she 54had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
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And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of 55Gideon, 56Barak, 57Samson, 58Jephthah, of 59David and 60Samuel and the prophets--
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who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, 61stopped the mouths of lions,
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62quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, 63became mighty in war, 64put foreign armies to flight.
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65Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.
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67They were stoned, they were sawn in two,a68they were killed with the sword. 69They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated--
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)