Self-interpreting Bible

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Hebrews 11

The nature of faith, and its acceptableness with God, set forth in the examples of many excellent persons of old time.

1 NOW afaith is the 1substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 bFor by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that cthe worlds were *framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith dAbel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead 2yet speaketh.

5 By faith eEnoch was *translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 fBut without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, 3moved with fear, gprepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which hhe condemned the world, and ibecame heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8 By faith jAbraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9 By faith he ksojourned in the land of promise, as in a *strange country, dwelling in *tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10 For he looked for la city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 Through faith also mSara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, nbecause she judged him faithful who had promised.

12 oTherefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

13 pThese all died 4in faith, not having received the promises, but qhaving seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and rconfessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they sseek a country.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of tthat country from whence they came out, uthey might have had opportunity to have returned.

16 But now vthey desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore wGod is not ashamed to be called their God: xfor he hath prepared for them a city.

17 yBy faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

18 5Of whom it was said, zThat in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

19 aAccounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a bfigure.

20 By faith cIsaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, dblessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

22 By faith eJoseph, when he died, 6made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

23 By faith fMoses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a *proper child; and they were gnot afraid of the king's commandment.

24 By faith hMoses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 iChoosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming jthe reproach 7of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: kfor he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

27 lBy faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing mhim who is invisible.

28 Through faith nhe kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

29 By faith othey passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians *assaying to do were drowned.

30 By faith pthe walls of Jericho fell down, after they were *compassed about seven days.

31 By faith qthe harlot Rahab perished not with them 8that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of rGedeon, and of sBarak, and of tSamson, and of uJephthae; of vDavid also, and wSamuel, and of the prophets:

33 Who through faith xsubdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, yobtained promises, zstopped the mouths of lions,

34 aQuenched the violence of fire, bescaped the edge of the sword, cout of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, dturned to flight the armies of the aliens.

35 eWomen received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 fAnd others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 gThey were stoned, they were sawn *asunder, were tempted, hwere slain with the sword: ithey wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 j(Of whom the world was not worthy:) kthey wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, lhaving obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 mGod having 9provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be nmade perfect.