Study Desk

Now faith is the ^[a](a)assurance of things ^[b](b)hoped for, the ^[c]conviction of ^(c)things not seen.

For by it the ^(d)men of old ^[d](e)gained approval.

By faith we understand that the ^[e](f)worlds were prepared ^(g)by the word of God, so that what is seen ^(h)was not made out of things which are visible.

By faith ⁽ⁱ⁾Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he ^(j)obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying ^[f]about his ^(k)gifts, and through ^[g]faith, though ^(l)he is dead, he still speaks.

By faith ^(m)Enoch was taken up so that he would not ⁽ⁿ⁾see death; and he was not found because God took him up ; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who ^(o)comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

By faith ^(p)Noah, being ^(q)warned by God about ^(r)things not yet seen, ^[h](s)in reverence ^(t)prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of ^(u)the righteousness which is according to faith.

By faith ^(v)Abraham, when he was called, obeyed ^[i]by going out to a place which he was to ^(w)receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

By faith he lived as an alien in ^(x)the land of promise, as in a foreign land, ^(y)dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, ^(z)fellow heirs of the same promise;

for he was looking for ^(aa)the city which has ^(ab)foundations, ^(ac)whose architect and builder is God.

By faith even ^(ad)Sarah herself received ^[j]ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him ^(ae)faithful who had promised.

Therefore there was born even of one man, and ^(af)him as good as dead ^[k]at that, as many descendants ^(ag) as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore .

^(ah)All these died in faith, ^(ai)without receiving the promises, but ^(aj)having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and ^(ak)having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a country of their own.

And indeed if they had been ^[l]thinking of that country from which they went out, ^(al)they would have had opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a ^(am)heavenly one. Therefore ^(an)God is not ^[m]ashamed to be ^(ao)called their God; for ^(ap)He has prepared a city for them.

By faith ^(aq)Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had ^(ar)received the promises was offering up his only begotten son;

it was he to whom it was said, "^(as) In Isaac your ^[n] descendants shall be called ."

^[o]He considered that ^(at)God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back ^[p]as a ^(au)type.

By faith ^(av)Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even regarding things to come.

By faith ^(aw)Jacob, as he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and ^(ax)worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff.

By faith ^(ay)Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.

By faith ^(az)Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the ^(ba)king's edict.

By faith Moses, ^(bb)when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,

choosing rather to ^(bc)endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

^(bd)considering the reproach of ^[q]Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the ^(be)reward.

By faith he ^(bf)left Egypt, not ^(bg)fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as ^(bh)seeing Him who is unseen.

By faith he ^[r](bi)kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that ^(bj)he who destroyed the firstborn would not touch them.

By faith they ^(bk)passed through the Red Sea as though they were passing through dry land; and the Egyptians, when they attempted it, were ^[s]drowned.

By faith ^(bl)the walls of Jericho fell down ^(bm)after they had been encircled for seven days.

By faith ^(bn)Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies ^[t]in peace.

And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of ^(bo)Gideon, ^(bp)Barak, ^(bq)Samson, ^(br)Jephthah, of ^(bs)David and ^(bt)Samuel and the prophets,

who by faith ^(bu)conquered kingdoms, ^(bv)performed acts of righteousness, ^(bw)obtained promises, ^(bx)shut the mouths of lions,

^(by)quenched the power of fire, ^(bz)escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, ^(ca)became mighty in war, ^(cb)put foreign armies to flight.

^(cc)Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their ^[u]release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection;

and others ^[v]experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also ^(cd)chains and imprisonment.

They were ^(ce)stoned, they were ^(cf)sawn in two, ^[w]they were tempted, they were ^(cg)put to death with the sword; they went about ^(ch)in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ^(ci)ill-treated

(men of whom the world was not worthy), ^(cj)wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes ^[x]in the ground.

And all these, having ^[y](ck)gained approval through their faith, ^(cl)did not receive ^[z]what was promised,

because God had ^[aa]provided ^(cm)something better for us, so that ^(cn)apart from us they would not be made perfect.