Faith and Assurance (Genesis 1:1–2; John 1:1–5)
2 UEB For because of this the ancestors were approved for their faith. BSB BSB: This is why the ancients were commended.
3 UEB By faith we understand that the universe was created by God's command, so that what is visible was not made out of things that were visible. BSB BSB: By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah (Genesis 4–9)
4 UEB It was by faith that Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, through which he was attested to be righteous, and God spoke well of him because of his offerings, and by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. BSB BSB: By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous when God gave approval to his gifts. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
7 UEB It was by faith that Noah, having been given a divine message about things not yet seen, with godly reverence built a ship to save his household. By doing this, he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that is according to faith. BSB BSB: By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in godly fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
The Faith of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 15–22; Romans 4:1–12)
8 UEB It was by faith that Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to the place that he was to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. BSB BSB: By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.
9 UEB It was by faith that he lived in the land of promise as a foreigner. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. BSB BSB: By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.
10 UEB For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. BSB BSB: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11 UEB It was by faith, even though Sarah herself was barren, that Abraham received ability to father a child. This happened even though he was too old, since he considered as faithful the one who had given the promise. BSB BSB: By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised.
12 UEB Therefore, from this one man—and he was almost dead—were born descendants as many as the stars in the sky and as countless as sand by the seashore. BSB BSB: And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13 UEB It was in faith that all these died without receiving the promises. Instead, after seeing and greeting them from far off, they admitted that they were foreigners and exiles on earth. BSB BSB: All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
14 UEB For those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. BSB BSB: Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.
15 UEB If they had been thinking of the country from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. BSB BSB: If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 UEB But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, since he has prepared a city for them. BSB BSB: Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
18 UEB It was Abraham to whom it had been said, "It is through Isaac that your descendants will be named." BSB BSB: even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
19 UEB Abraham reasoned that God was able to raise up Isaac from the dead, and figuratively speaking, it was from them that he received him back. BSB BSB: Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death.
The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph (Genesis 27–50)
20 UEB It was also by faith about things to come that Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau. BSB BSB: By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future.
21 UEB It was by faith that Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons. Jacob worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. BSB BSB: 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 UEB It was by faith that Joseph, when his end was near, spoke of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt and instructed them about his bones. BSB BSB: By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.
The Faith of Moses (Exodus 2–15; Acts 7:20–22)
23 UEB It was by faith that Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a beautiful child. They were not afraid of the king's command. BSB BSB: By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after his birth, because they saw that he was a beautiful child, and they were unafraid of the king’s edict.
24 UEB It was by faith that Moses, after he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. BSB BSB: By faith Moses, when he was grown, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter.
25 UEB Instead, he chose to suffer with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a while. BSB BSB: He chose to suffer oppression with God’s people rather than to experience the fleeting enjoyment of sin.
26 UEB He reasoned that the disgrace of following Christ was greater riches than Egypt's treasures. For he was fixing his eyes on his reward. BSB BSB: He valued disgrace for Christ above the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his reward.
27 UEB It was by faith that Moses left Egypt. He did not fear the king's anger, for he endured as if he were seeing the one who is invisible. BSB BSB: By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.
28 UEB It was by faith that he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch the Israelites' firstborn sons. BSB BSB: By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch Israel’s own firstborn.
29 UEB It was by faith that they passed through the Sea of Reeds as if over dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do this, they were swallowed up. BSB BSB: By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to follow, they were drowned.
The Faith of Many (Joshua–Malachi)
30 UEB It was by faith that Jericho's walls fell down, after they had been circled around for seven days. BSB BSB: By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31 UEB It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute did not die with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. BSB BSB: By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies in peace, did not perish with those who were disobedient.
32 UEB What more can I say? For the time will fail me if I tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and about the prophets. BSB BSB: And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, 33 UEB It was through faith that they conquered kingdoms, worked justice, and received promises. They stopped the mouths of lions, BSB BSB: who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
34 UEB extinguished the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were healed of illnesses, became mighty in battle, and defeated foreign armies. BSB BSB: quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.
36 UEB Others had testing in mocking and whippings, and even chains and imprisonment. BSB BSB: Still others endured mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.
37 UEB They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were killed with the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins. They were destitute, oppressed, mistreated. BSB BSB: They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.
38 UEB The world was not worthy of them. They were always wandering about in the deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. BSB BSB: The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and hid in caves and holes in the ground.
39 UEB Although all these people were approved by God because of their faith, they did not receive the promise. BSB BSB: These were all commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised.
40 UEB God planned something better for us, so that without us, they would not be made perfect. BSB BSB: God had planned something better for us, so that together with us they would be made perfect.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.