Montgomery - Hebrews - 11

11:1  Now faith is the title-deed of things hoped for; the putting to the proof of things not seen.

11:2  For by it men of old times had witness borne to them.

11:3  By faith we understand that the world was fashioned by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of what is visible.

11:4  By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice more acceptable than that of Cain, through which he had witness borne to him that he was righteous, God giving the testimony by accepting his gifts; and through it he, although he is dead, still speaks.

11:5  By faith Enoch was translated so that he should not see death; and he was not found, because God had translated him. Before his translation he had witness borne to him that he pleased God.

11:6  now without faith it is impossible to please him; for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he ever rewards those who are seeking.

11:7  By faith Noah, warned of God of things not yet seen, reverently gave heed, and built an ark for the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is of faith.

11:8  By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out unto a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

11:9  It was by faith that he sojourned in the promised land as an alien, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, his fellow heirs of the same promise.

11:10  For he continually looked for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11:11  By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed, although she was past the age for child-bearing, because she counted Him faithful who had promised;

11:12  and thus there sprang from one man, and him practically dead, a nation like the stars in the heavens in multitude, or grains of sand upon the seashore, innumerable.

11:13  These all died in faith, not having yet received the promises; nay, but they saw them from afar, and hailed them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

11:14  For those who say such things make it plain that they are seeking a Fatherland.

11:15  And if they had cherished the memory of that land from which they went out, they would have found an opportunity to return;

11:16  but now they are longing for a better homeland, that is, a heavenly. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; and he has prepared a city for them.

11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was put to the test, was on the point of offering up Isaac; yes, he who had received the promise was about to offer up his only son,

11:18  of whom it had been said, It is through Isaac that your posterity will be traced.

11:19  For he accounted God able even to raise from the dead, from whence, figuratively speaking, he did indeed receive him back again.

11:20  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come.

11:21  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

11:22  By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the exodus of the children of Israel, and gave instructions in regard to his bones.

11:23  By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were not afraid of the king’s decree.

11:24  By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

11:25  choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

11:26  He accounted the obloquy of Christ to be greater than the treasures of Egypt; for he fixed his eyes on the reward.

11:27  By faith he left Egypt, not because he feared the wrath of the king, but he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

11:28  By faith he established the Passover, and the sprinkling with blood, in order that the Destroying Angel might not touch the firstborn.

11:29  By faith the people crossed over the Red Sea as on dry land; and when the Egyptians tried to do this they were swallowed up.

11:30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled seven days.

11:31  By faith Rahab, the harlot, perished not with the disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

11:32  And what more shall I say? for time would fail me to tell of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, and of Jeptha; of David and Samuel and the prophets,

11:33  who through faith conquered kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

11:34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, proved valiant in warfare, and routed armies of aliens.

11:35  Woman received their dear ones alive from the dead; and others were broken on the wheel, not accepting the offered deliverance, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection.

11:36  Others again bore trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, even of chains and imprisonment.

11:37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, persecuted, tormented -

11:38  of whom the world was not worthy - wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

11:39  Yet, though these all had witness borne to them by their faith, they received not the promise;

11:40  since it was for us that God had in store some better thing, so that apart from us they should not be perfected.