1 Faith|strong="G4102" is|strong="G1510" what|strong="G1161" makes real the|strong="G1161" things|strong="G4229" we|strong="G1161" hope|strong="G1679" for|strong="G1161". It|strong="G1161" is|strong="G1510" proof|strong="G4102" of|strong="G1510" what|strong="G1161" we|strong="G1161" cannot|strong="G3756" see|strong="G0991".
2 God was|strong="G3588" pleased with|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G3778" who|strong="G3588" lived a|strong="G1722" long time ago because|strong="G1063" they|strong="G3778" had|strong="G3778" faith like this|strong="G3778".
3 Faith|strong="G4102" helps us|strong="G1519" understand|strong="G3539" that|strong="G1096" God|strong="G2316" created the|strong="G3588" whole world|strong="G0165" by|strong="G1537" his|strong="G1519" command|strong="G4487". This|strong="G3588" means|strong="G1537" that|strong="G1096" the|strong="G3588" things|strong="G4487" we|strong="G3588" see|strong="G0991" were|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" by|strong="G1537" something that|strong="G1096" cannot|strong="G3361" be|strong="G1096" seen|strong="G0991".
4 Cain|strong="G2535" and|strong="G2532" Abel|strong="G0006" both|strong="G2532" offered|strong="G4374" sacrifices|strong="G2378" to|strong="G1909" God|strong="G2316". But|strong="G2532" Abel|strong="G0006" offered|strong="G4374" a|strong="G1510" better|strong="G4183" sacrifice|strong="G2378" to|strong="G1909" God|strong="G2316" because|strong="G1223" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G1510" faith|strong="G4102". God|strong="G2316" said|strong="G2980" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G1510" pleased with|strong="G3844" what|strong="G3739" Abel|strong="G0006" offered|strong="G4374". And|strong="G2532" so|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" called|strong="G3739" him|strong="G0846" a|strong="G1510" good|strong="G1510" man|strong="G1342" because|strong="G1223" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G1510" faith|strong="G4102". Abel|strong="G0006" died|strong="G0599", but|strong="G2532" through|strong="G1223" his|strong="G0846" faith|strong="G4102" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" still|strong="G2089" speaking|strong="G2980".
5 Enoch|strong="G1802" was|strong="G3588" carried away from|strong="G3361" this|strong="G3588" earth, so|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" never|strong="G3756" died|strong="G2288". The|strong="G3588" Scriptures tell us|strong="G3708" that|strong="G3708" before|strong="G4253" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" carried off, he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G3708" man|strong="G3361" who|strong="G3588" pleased|strong="G2100" God|strong="G2316". Later, no|strong="G3756" one|strong="G3588" knew where he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588", because|strong="G1063" God|strong="G2316" had|strong="G2316" taken|strong="G3331" Enoch|strong="G1802" to|strong="G2532" be|strong="G2532" with|strong="G2316" him|strong="G0846". This|strong="G3588" all|strong="G3588" happened|strong="G3588" because|strong="G1063" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G2316" faith|strong="G4102".
6 Without|strong="G5565" faith|strong="G4102" no|strong="G0102" one|strong="G3588" can please|strong="G2100" God|strong="G2316". Whoever|strong="G3748" comes|strong="G1096" to|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" must|strong="G1163" believe|strong="G4100" that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" real and|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3754" he|strong="G2532" rewards those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" sincerely try to|strong="G2532" find him|strong="G0846".
7 Noah|strong="G3575" was|strong="G3739" warned|strong="G5537" by|strong="G1223" God|strong="G0846" about|strong="G4012" things|strong="G3739" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" could|strong="G1096" not|strong="G3739" yet|strong="G2532" see|strong="G0991". But|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3739" faith|strong="G4102" and|strong="G2532" respect|strong="G1519" for|strong="G1519" God|strong="G0846", so|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" built|strong="G2680" a|strong="G1096" large boat to|strong="G1519" save his|strong="G0846" family|strong="G3624". With|strong="G1223" his|strong="G0846" faith|strong="G4102", Noah|strong="G3575" showed that|strong="G3739" the|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" was|strong="G3739" wrong. And|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" became|strong="G1096" one|strong="G3739" of|strong="G1223" those|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3739" are|strong="G3739" made|strong="G1096" right|strong="G1519" with|strong="G1223" God|strong="G0846" through|strong="G1223" faith|strong="G4102".
8 God called|strong="G2564" Abraham|strong="G0011" to|strong="G1519" travel to|strong="G1519" another place|strong="G5117" that|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" promised to|strong="G1519" give|strong="G2064" him|strong="G3739". Abraham|strong="G0011" did|strong="G2064" not|strong="G3361" know|strong="G1987" where|strong="G4226" that|strong="G3739" other|strong="G3739" place|strong="G5117" was|strong="G3739". But|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" obeyed|strong="G5219" God and|strong="G2532" started traveling because he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3739" faith|strong="G4102".
9 Abraham|strong="G0846" lived|strong="G2730" in|strong="G1722" the|strong="G3588" country|strong="G1093" that|strong="G0846" God|strong="G0846" promised|strong="G1860" to|strong="G1519" give him|strong="G0846". He|strong="G2532" lived|strong="G2730" there|strong="G1722" like|strong="G5613" a|strong="G5613" visitor|strong="G3939" who|strong="G3588" did not|strong="G2532" belong. He|strong="G2532" did this|strong="G3588" because|strong="G1722" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102". He|strong="G2532" lived|strong="G2730" in|strong="G1722" tents|strong="G4633" with|strong="G3326" Isaac|strong="G2464" and|strong="G2532" Jacob|strong="G2384", who|strong="G3588" also|strong="G2532" received the|strong="G3588" same|strong="G0846" promise|strong="G1860" from|strong="G1722" God|strong="G0846".
10 Abraham was|strong="G3739" waiting|strong="G1551" for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" city|strong="G4172" that|strong="G3739" has|strong="G2192" real foundations|strong="G2310". He|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3739" waiting|strong="G1551" for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" city|strong="G4172" that|strong="G3739" is|strong="G2316" planned and|strong="G2532" built by|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316".
11 Sarah|strong="G4564" was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G2532" able to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2532" children|strong="G4690", and|strong="G2532" Abraham|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" too|strong="G2532" old. But|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" in|strong="G1519" God|strong="G0846", trusting him|strong="G0846" to|strong="G1519" do|strong="G2983" what|strong="G3588" he|strong="G2532" promised|strong="G1861". And|strong="G2532" so|strong="G2532" God|strong="G0846" made|strong="G1861" them|strong="G0846" able to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G2532" children|strong="G4690".
12 Abraham was|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2532" old he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" almost dead|strong="G3499". But|strong="G2532" from|strong="G0575" that|strong="G3778" one|strong="G1520" man|strong="G3778" came as|strong="G5613" many descendants as|strong="G5613" there are|strong="G3778" stars|strong="G0798" in|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" sky|strong="G3772". So|strong="G2532" many people|strong="G4128" came from|strong="G0575" him|strong="G2532" that|strong="G3778" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G3778" like|strong="G5613" grains of|strong="G1080" sand|strong="G0285" on|strong="G0575" the|strong="G3588" seashore|strong="G2281".
13 All|strong="G3956" these|strong="G3778" great|strong="G3956" people|strong="G3956" continued living with|strong="G1909" faith|strong="G4102" until|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" died|strong="G0599". They|strong="G0846" did|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3361" get the|strong="G3956" things|strong="G3778" God|strong="G0846" promised|strong="G1860" his|strong="G0846" people|strong="G3956". But|strong="G0235" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" happy just|strong="G2532" to|strong="G1909" see|strong="G3708" those|strong="G3588" promises|strong="G1860" coming far|strong="G3588" in|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3956" future. They|strong="G0846" accepted|strong="G2983" the|strong="G3956" fact|strong="G3754" that|strong="G3754" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" like|strong="G2596" visitors and|strong="G2532" strangers|strong="G3581" here|strong="G1510" on|strong="G1909" earth|strong="G1093".
14 When|strong="G3004" people|strong="G5108" accept something like|strong="G5108" that|strong="G3754", they|strong="G3754" show they|strong="G3754" are|strong="G3588" waiting for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G5108" country|strong="G3968" that|strong="G3754" will|strong="G3748" be their|strong="G3754" own|strong="G3968".
15 If|strong="G1487" they|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3739" thinking|strong="G3421" about|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" country they|strong="G3739" had|strong="G2192" left|strong="G0575", they|strong="G3739" could|strong="G2192" have|strong="G2192" gone back.
16 But|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G1510" waiting for|strong="G1063" a|strong="G1510" better|strong="G2909" country—a|strong="G1510" heavenly|strong="G2032" country. So|strong="G1161" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" ashamed|strong="G1870" to|strong="G0846" be|strong="G1510" called|strong="G1941" their|strong="G0846" God|strong="G2316". And|strong="G1161" he|strong="G0846" has|strong="G2316" prepared|strong="G2090" a|strong="G1510" city|strong="G4172" for|strong="G1063" them|strong="G0846".
19 He|strong="G2532" believed that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316" could|strong="G1415" raise|strong="G1453" people|strong="G0846" from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498". And|strong="G2532" really, when|strong="G2532" God|strong="G2316" stopped Abraham|strong="G0846" from|strong="G1537" killing Isaac, it|strong="G0846" was|strong="G3588" as|strong="G1722" if|strong="G3748" he|strong="G2532" got|strong="G1453" him|strong="G0846" back|strong="G2865" from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498".
20 Isaac|strong="G2464" blessed|strong="G2127" the|strong="G3588" future|strong="G3195" of|strong="G4012" Jacob|strong="G2384" and|strong="G2532" Esau|strong="G2269". He|strong="G2532" did that|strong="G4012" because|strong="G4012" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102".
21 And|strong="G2532" Jacob|strong="G2384", also|strong="G2532" because|strong="G1909" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102", blessed|strong="G2127" each|strong="G1538" one|strong="G1538" of|strong="G5207" Joseph’s|strong="G2501" sons|strong="G5207". He|strong="G2532" did this|strong="G3588" while|strong="G0846" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" dying|strong="G0599", leaning on|strong="G1909" his|strong="G0846" rod|strong="G4464" and|strong="G2532" worshiping|strong="G4352" God|strong="G0846".
22 And|strong="G2532" when|strong="G2532" Joseph|strong="G2501" was|strong="G3588" almost dead, he|strong="G2532" spoke about|strong="G4012" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" of|strong="G5207" Israel|strong="G2474" leaving Egypt. And|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" told them|strong="G0846" what|strong="G3588" they|strong="G0846" should|strong="G2532" do|strong="G2532" with|strong="G2532" his|strong="G0846" body. He|strong="G2532" did|strong="G1781" this|strong="G3588" because|strong="G4012" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102".
23 And|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" mother and|strong="G2532" father|strong="G3962" of|strong="G1080" Moses|strong="G3475" hid|strong="G2928" him|strong="G0846" for|strong="G1360" three|strong="G5150" months|strong="G5150" after|strong="G2532" he|strong="G2532" was|strong="G3588" born|strong="G1080". They|strong="G0846" did|strong="G3708" this|strong="G3588" because|strong="G1360" they|strong="G0846" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102". They|strong="G0846" saw|strong="G3708" that|strong="G3708" Moses|strong="G3475" was|strong="G3588" a|strong="G3708" beautiful|strong="G0791" baby. And|strong="G2532" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" afraid|strong="G5399" to|strong="G2532" disobey the|strong="G3588" king’s|strong="G0935" order.
26 He thought|strong="G2233" it|strong="G2233" was|strong="G3588" better to|strong="G1519" suffer for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" Messiah|strong="G5547" than|strong="G3173" to|strong="G1519" have|strong="G5547" all|strong="G3588" the|strong="G3588" treasures|strong="G2344" of|strong="G3588" Egypt|strong="G0125". He was|strong="G3588" waiting for|strong="G1063" the|strong="G3588" reward|strong="G3405" that|strong="G5547" God would|strong="G5547" give him|strong="G2233".
27 Moses|strong="G3708" left|strong="G2641" Egypt|strong="G0125" because|strong="G1063" he|strong="G5613" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102". He|strong="G5613" was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3361" afraid|strong="G5399" of|strong="G0935" the|strong="G3588" king’s|strong="G0935" anger|strong="G2372". He|strong="G5613" continued strong as|strong="G5613" if|strong="G5613" he|strong="G5613" could|strong="G3361" see|strong="G3708" the|strong="G3588" God no|strong="G3361" one|strong="G3588" can see|strong="G3708".
28 Moses|strong="G0846" prepared the|strong="G3588" Passover|strong="G3957" and|strong="G2532" spread the|strong="G3588" blood|strong="G0129" on|strong="G4160" the|strong="G3588" doorways of|strong="G0129" the|strong="G3588" people|strong="G0846" of|strong="G0129" Israel|strong="G0846", so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" the|strong="G3588" angel of|strong="G0129" death|strong="G0129" would|strong="G0846" not|strong="G3361" kill their|strong="G0846" firstborn|strong="G4416" sons. Moses|strong="G0846" did|strong="G4160" this|strong="G3588" because|strong="G0846" he|strong="G2532" had|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102".
29 And|strong="G1093" God’s people|strong="G3588" all|strong="G3588" walked through|strong="G1223" the|strong="G3588" Red|strong="G2063" Sea|strong="G2281" as|strong="G5613" if|strong="G5613" it|strong="G1223" were|strong="G3739" dry|strong="G3584" land|strong="G1093". They|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3739" able to|strong="G1093" do|strong="G2983" this|strong="G3588" because|strong="G1223" they|strong="G3739" had|strong="G3739" faith|strong="G4102". But|strong="G3739" when|strong="G5613" the|strong="G3588" Egyptians|strong="G0124" tried|strong="G3984" to|strong="G1093" follow them|strong="G3739", they|strong="G3739" were|strong="G3739" drowned|strong="G2666".
30 And|strong="G2250" the|strong="G3588" walls|strong="G5038" of|strong="G2250" Jericho|strong="G2410" fell|strong="G4098" because|strong="G1909" of|strong="G2250" the|strong="G3588" faith|strong="G4102" of|strong="G2250" God’s people|strong="G3588". They|strong="G2250" marched around|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" walls|strong="G5038" for|strong="G1909" seven|strong="G2033" days|strong="G2250", and|strong="G2250" then the|strong="G3588" walls|strong="G5038" fell|strong="G4098".
31 And|strong="G4102" Rahab|strong="G4460", the|strong="G3588" prostitute|strong="G4204", welcomed|strong="G1209" the|strong="G3588" Israelite spies|strong="G2685" like friends. And|strong="G4102" because of|strong="G3588" her faith|strong="G4102", she was|strong="G3588" not|strong="G3756" killed with|strong="G3326" the|strong="G3588" ones who|strong="G3588" refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G3326" obey|strong="G0544".
32 Do|strong="G3004" I|strong="G1473" need to|strong="G3004" give|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" more|strong="G2089" examples? I|strong="G1473" don’t have|strong="G2532" enough time|strong="G5550" to|strong="G3004" tell|strong="G3004" you|strong="G3004" about|strong="G4012" Gideon|strong="G1066", Barak|strong="G0913", Samson|strong="G4546", Jephthah|strong="G2422", David|strong="G1138", Samuel|strong="G4545", and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G3588" prophets|strong="G4396".
33 All of|strong="G0932" them|strong="G3739" had|strong="G3739" great faith|strong="G4102". And|strong="G4102" with|strong="G1223" that|strong="G3739" faith|strong="G4102" they|strong="G3739" defeated kingdoms|strong="G0932". They|strong="G3739" did what|strong="G3739" was|strong="G3739" right|strong="G1343", and|strong="G4102" God helped them|strong="G3739" in|strong="G4102" the|strong="G1223" ways he|strong="G3739" promised|strong="G1860". With|strong="G1223" their|strong="G1223" faith|strong="G4102" some|strong="G3739" people closed|strong="G5420" the|strong="G1223" mouths|strong="G4750" of|strong="G0932" lions|strong="G3023".
34 And|strong="G1411" some|strong="G0575" were|strong="G1096" able to|strong="G1722" stop blazing fires. Others|strong="G0245" escaped|strong="G5343" from|strong="G0575" being|strong="G1096" killed with|strong="G1722" swords|strong="G3162". Some|strong="G0575" who were|strong="G1096" weak|strong="G0769" were|strong="G1096" made|strong="G1096" strong|strong="G2478". They|strong="G1722" became|strong="G1096" powerful|strong="G2478" in|strong="G1722" battle|strong="G4171" and|strong="G1411" defeated other|strong="G0245" armies|strong="G3925".
35 There|strong="G1161" were|strong="G0243" women|strong="G1135" who|strong="G3588" lost loved ones but|strong="G1161" got them|strong="G0846" back|strong="G2983" when|strong="G1161" they|strong="G0846" were|strong="G0243" raised from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498". Others|strong="G0243" were|strong="G0243" tortured|strong="G5178" but|strong="G1161" refused|strong="G3756" to|strong="G2443" accept|strong="G2983" their|strong="G0846" freedom. They|strong="G0846" did this|strong="G3588" so|strong="G2443" that|strong="G2443" they|strong="G0846" could be|strong="G3756" raised from|strong="G1537" death|strong="G3498" to|strong="G2443" a|strong="G2983" better|strong="G2909" life.
36 Some were|strong="G2532" laughed at|strong="G1161" and|strong="G2532" beaten. Others|strong="G2087" were|strong="G2532" tied up and|strong="G2532" put|strong="G2983" in|strong="G2532" prison|strong="G5438".
37 They|strong="G1722" were killed with|strong="G1722" stones. They|strong="G1722" were cut in|strong="G1722" half. They|strong="G1722" were killed with|strong="G1722" swords|strong="G3162". The|strong="G1722" only clothes some of|strong="G1722" them|strong="G1722" had|strong="G1722" were sheepskins|strong="G3374" or goatskins. They|strong="G1722" were poor, persecuted, and|strong="G3162" treated badly by|strong="G1722" others.
38 The|strong="G3588" world|strong="G2889" was|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" good|strong="G1510" enough for|strong="G1909" these|strong="G3739" great|strong="G3756" people|strong="G1510". They|strong="G3739" had|strong="G1510" to|strong="G1909" wander in|strong="G1909" deserts|strong="G2047" and|strong="G2532" mountains|strong="G3735", living in|strong="G1909" caves|strong="G4693" and|strong="G2532" holes|strong="G3692" in|strong="G1909" the|strong="G3588" ground|strong="G1093".
39 God was|strong="G3588" pleased with|strong="G1223" all|strong="G3956" of|strong="G1223" them|strong="G1223" because|strong="G1223" of|strong="G1223" their|strong="G2532" faith|strong="G4102". But|strong="G2532" not|strong="G3756" one|strong="G3778" of|strong="G1223" them|strong="G1223" received|strong="G2865" God’s great|strong="G3956" promise|strong="G1860".
40 God|strong="G2316" planned something|strong="G5100" better|strong="G2909" for|strong="G4012" us|strong="G4012". He|strong="G5100" wanted to|strong="G2443" make|strong="G5048" us|strong="G4012" perfect|strong="G5048". Of|strong="G2316" course, he|strong="G5100" wanted those|strong="G3588" great people|strong="G5100" to|strong="G2443" be|strong="G2316" made|strong="G5048" perfect|strong="G5048" too, but|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3361" before|strong="G3588" we|strong="G2249" could|strong="G3361" all|strong="G3588" enjoy that|strong="G2443" blessing together.