Hebrews 11 (NMV)
1 Now faith is the assurance of what is hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
2 For by it the people of old received approval from God.
3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
4 By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. Through his faith, he was approved as righteous, and God testified about his gifts. Even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.
5 By faith, Enoch was taken away so that he did not experience death. He was not found, because God took him away. For before he was taken, he was approved as one who pleased God.
6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.
7 By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear and built an ark to save his household. By this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes through faith.
8 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith, he lived as a foreigner in the land of promise, staying in tents with Isaac and Jacob, co-heirs of the same promise.
10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 By faith, Sarah herself received the ability to conceive children, even though she was past the age, since she considered the One who had promised to be faithful.
12 Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, without receiving the things promised. But they saw them from a distance, welcomed them, and acknowledged that they were strangers and temporary residents on the earth.
14 Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a homeland.
15 If they had been thinking about where they came from, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better place, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
17 By faith, Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He who had received the promises was offering his one and only son,
18 even though it had been said to him, "Through Isaac your offspring will be called."
19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
20 By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.
21 By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22 By faith, Joseph, when he was near death, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones.
23 By faith, Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith, Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing instead to suffer mistreatment with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 For he regarded the undeserved condemnation that comes with being aligned to Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward.
27 By faith, he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king's anger, for he endured as one who sees the unseen One.
28 By faith, he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith, they crossed the Red Sea as though it were dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do the same, they were drowned.
30 By faith, the walls of Jericho fell down after being marched around for seven days.
31 By faith, Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had welcomed the spies in peace.
32 And what more can I say? Time would fail me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and routed foreign armies.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 Others experienced mockings and floggings, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated,
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
39 All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,
40 since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.