21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to stir up to love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, as the manner of some is ; but exhorting one another : and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much more severe punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, by which he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth to me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 33 Partly, while ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, while ye became companions of them that were so used. 34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the plundering of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. [1] 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye may receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that is coming will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man shall draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back to perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.
CHAP. 11.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. [2]
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. [3]
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. [4]
8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to move into a place which he should later receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
11 Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
12 Therefore there sprang even from one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. [5]
14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from which they came, they might have had opportunity to return.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: [6]
19 Accounting that God was able to
