8By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go to a place, which he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed; and went out, though he did not know where he was being sent. 9By faith, he sojourned (stayed as a visitor) in that land of promise (the promised land), like a visitor in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise; 10For he was confidently looking for a city with eternal foundations, whose Architect and Builder is God. 11By faith, even Sarah, who was far beyond childbearing age, was also enabled to conceive and bear a child, because she judged God faithful, Who had made the promise. 12And so, there sprang from this one man, Abraham - and him as good as dead (100 years old), as many descendants in number as the stars of the sky, and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the sea shore. 13All these people were living by faith when they died; not having received what was promised, but having seen and welcomed them from afar, and were assured of and embraced them, and acknowledged that they were mere strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For those that say such things show plainly that they are looking for a country they can call their own. 15And truly, if they had been thinking and longing for that country out of which they had come, they might have had opportunity to return. 16But instead, they desired a better country - that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. 17By faith, Abraham, when God tested him, offered up Isaac as a sacrifice: he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son, 18Even though it was said, “In Isaac shall your seed be called” (Gen.21:12); 19Abraham reasoned that God was able to raise the dead; and so, in a manner of speaking, he did receive Isaac back from the dead. 20By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. 21By faith, Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both sons of Joseph; and bowed and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. 22By faith, Joseph, when he was about to die, spoke confidently of the exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt; and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

23By faith, the parents of Moses hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict to slay all male newborns. 24By faith, Moses, when he had grown to manhood, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25Choosing to be mistreated along with the people of God, rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin, 26Esteeming the reproach (disdain) for the sake of Christ of greater value than the treasures in Egypt; for he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith, he forsook Egypt, not fearing the king’s wrath; and he persevered, as he saw Him Who is invisible. 28By faith, he kept the Passover, and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. 29By faith, they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians attempted to do the same, they were drowned. 30By faith, the people of Israel marched around walls of Jericho seven days, and then the walls came crashing down. 31By faith, the harlot, Rahab, did not perish with the unbelievers of Jericho, when she had welcomed the Israel spies.

32And what more shall I say? For time would not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah; David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33Who, by faith, conquered kingdoms, administered justice, received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, 34Quenched the fury of fire, escaped the edge of the sword; their weakness being made strong, valiant in battle, routed enemy armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again; there were others who were tortured, refusing to turn from God, in order to obtain a better resurrection: 36And others faced of cruel mocking, floggings, chains and imprisonment; 37They were stoned to death, sawed in two, and killed by the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; destitute, oppressed, and mistreated 38The world was not worthy of these faithful martyrs. They wandered in deserts, and in mountains, living in caves and holes in the earth. 39And these were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what was promised, 40Since God had provided something better in mind for us, so that they would not reach perfection without us.