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1. Faith is what makes real the things we hope for. It is proof of what we cannot see.
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1. Now G1161 faith G4102 is G2076 the substance G5287 of things hoped for G1679 , the evidence G1650 of things G4229 not G3756 seen G991 .
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2. God was pleased with the people who lived a long time ago, because they had faith like this.
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2. For G1063 by G1722 it G5026 the G3588 elders G4245 obtained a good report G3140 .
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3. Faith helps us understand that God created the whole world by his command. This means that the things we see were made by something that cannot be seen.
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3. Through faith G4102 we understand G3539 that the G3588 worlds G165 were framed G2675 by the word G4487 of God G2316 , so that things which are seen G991 were not G3361 made G1096 of G1537 things which do appear G5316 .
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4. Cain and Abel both offered sacrifices to God. But Abel offered a better sacrifice to God because he had faith. God said he was pleased with what Abel offered. And so God called him a good man because he had faith. Abel died, but through his faith he is still speaking.
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4. By faith G4102 Abel G6 offered G4374 unto God G2316 a more excellent G4119 sacrifice G2378 than G3844 Cain G2535 , by G1223 which G3739 he obtained witness G3140 that he was G1511 righteous G1342 , God G2316 testifying G3140 of G1909 his G846 gifts G1435 : and G2532 by G1223 it G846 he being dead G599 yet G2089 speaketh G2980 .
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5. Enoch was carried away from this earth, so he never died. The Scriptures tell us that before he was carried off, he was a man who pleased God. Later, no one knew where he was, because God had taken Enoch to be with him. This all happened because he had faith.
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5. By faith G4102 Enoch G1802 was translated G3346 that he should not G3361 see G1492 death G2288 ; and G2532 was not G3756 found G2147 , because G1360 God G2316 had translated G3346 him G846 : for G1063 before G4253 his G846 translation G3331 he had this testimony G3140 , that he pleased G2100 God G2316 .
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6. Without faith no one can please God. Whoever comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who sincerely try to find him.
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6. But G1161 without G5565 faith G4102 it is impossible G102 to please G2100 him : for G1063 he that cometh G4334 to God G2316 must G1163 believe G4100 that G3754 he is G2076 , and G2532 that he is G1096 a rewarder G3406 of them that diligently seek G1567 him G846 .
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7. Noah was warned by God about things that he could not yet see. But he had faith and respect for God, so he built a large boat to save his family. With his faith, Noah showed that the world was wrong. And he became one of those who are made right with God through faith.
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7. By faith G4102 Noah G3575 , being warned of God G5537 of G4012 things not seen as yet G3369 G991 , moved with fear G2125 , prepared G2680 an ark G2787 to the saving G1519 G4991 of his G848 house G3624 ; by G1223 the which G3739 he condemned G2632 the G3588 world G2889 , and G2532 became G1096 heir G2818 of the G3588 righteousness G1343 which is by G2596 faith G4102 .
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8. God called Abraham to travel to another place that he promised to give him. Abraham did not know where that other place was. But he obeyed God and started traveling, because he had faith.
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8. By faith G4102 Abraham G11 , when he was called G2564 to go out G1831 into G1519 a place G5117 which G3739 he should after G3195 receive G2983 for G1519 an inheritance G2817 , obeyed G5219 ; and G2532 he went out G1831 , not G3361 knowing G1987 whither G4226 he went G2064 .
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9. Abraham lived in the country that God promised to give him. He lived there like a visitor who did not belong. He did this because he had faith. He lived in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who also received the same promise from God.
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9. By faith G4102 he sojourned G3939 in G1519 the G3588 land G1093 of promise G1860 , as in G5613 a strange country G245 , dwelling G2730 in G1722 tabernacles G4633 with G3326 Isaac G2464 and G2532 Jacob G2384 , the G3588 heirs with him G4789 of the G3588 same G846 promise G1860 :
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10. Abraham was waiting for the city that has real foundations. He was waiting for the city that is planned and built by God.
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10. For G1063 he looked for G1551 a city G4172 which hath G2192 foundations G2310 , whose G3739 builder G5079 and G2532 maker G1217 is God G2316 .
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11. Sarah was not able to have children, and Abraham was too old. But he had faith in God, trusting him to do what he promised. And so God made them able to have children.
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11. Through faith G4102 also G2532 Sarah G4564 herself G846 received G2983 strength G1411 to G1519 conceive G2602 seed G4690 , and G2532 was delivered of a child G5088 when she was past age G3844 G2244 G2540 , because G1893 she judged G2233 him faithful G4103 who had promised G1861 .
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12. Abraham was so old he was almost dead. But from that one man came as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. So many people came from him that they are like grains of sand on the seashore.
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12. Therefore G1352 sprang G1080 there even G2532 of G575 one G1520 , and G2532 him G5023 as good as dead G3499 , so many as G2531 the G3588 stars G798 of the G3588 sky G3772 in multitude G4128 , and G2532 as G5616 the sand G285 which G3588 is by G3844 the G3588 sea shore G5491 G2281 innumerable G382 .
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13. All these great people continued living with faith until they died. They did not get the things God promised his people. But they were happy just to see those promises coming far in the future. They accepted the fact that they were like visitors and strangers here on earth.
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13. These G3778 all G3956 died G599 in G2596 faith G4102 , not G3361 having received G2983 the G3588 promises G1860 , but G235 having seen G1492 them G846 afar off G4207 , and G2532 were persuaded G3982 of them, and G2532 embraced G782 them, and G2532 confessed G3670 that G3754 they were G1526 strangers G3581 and G2532 pilgrims G3927 on G1909 the G3588 earth G1093 .
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14. When people accept something like that, they show they are waiting for a country that will be their own.
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14. For G1063 they that say G3004 such things G5108 declare plainly G1718 that G3754 they seek G1934 a country G3968 .
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15. If they were thinking about the country they had left, they could have gone back.
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15. And G2532 truly G3303 , if G1487 they had been mindful G3421 of that G1565 country from G575 whence G3739 they came out G1831 , they might have had G2192 G302 opportunity G2540 to have returned G344 .
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16. But they were waiting for a better country�a heavenly country. So God is not ashamed to be called their God. And he has prepared a city for them.
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16. But G1161 now G3570 they desire G3713 a better G2909 country, that is G5123 , a heavenly G2032 : wherefore G1352 God G2316 is not G3756 ashamed G1870 to be called G1941 their G846 God G2316 : for G1063 he hath prepared G2090 for them G846 a city G4172 .
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17. God tested Abraham's faith. God told him to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham obeyed because he had faith. He already had the promises from God. And God had already said to him, "It is through Isaac that your descendants will come." But Abraham was ready to offer his only son. He did this because he had faith.
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17. By faith G4102 Abraham G11 , when he was tried G3985 , offered up G4374 Isaac G2464 : and G2532 he that had received G324 the G3588 promises G1860 offered up G4374 his only begotten G3439 son,
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18. Of G4314 whom G3739 it was said G2980 , That G3754 in G1722 Isaac G2464 shall thy G4671 seed G4690 be called G2564 :
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19. He believed that God could raise people from death. And really, when God stopped Abraham from killing Isaac, it was as if he got him back from death.
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19. Accounting G3049 that G3754 God G2316 was able G1415 to raise him up G1453 , even G2532 from G1537 the dead G3498 ; from whence G3606 also G2532 he received G2865 him G846 in G1722 a figure G3850 .
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20. Isaac blessed the future of Jacob and Esau. He did that because he had faith.
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20. By faith G4102 Isaac G2464 blessed G2127 Jacob G2384 and G2532 Esau G2269 concerning G4012 things to come G3195 .
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21. And Jacob, also because he had faith, blessed each one of Joseph's sons. He did this while he was dying, leaning on his rod and worshiping God.
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21. By faith G4102 Jacob G2384 , when he was a dying G599 , blessed G2127 both G1538 the G3588 sons G5207 of Joseph G2501 ; and G2532 worshiped G4352 , leaning upon G1909 the G3588 top G206 of his G848 staff G4464 .
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22. And when Joseph was almost dead, he spoke about the people of Israel leaving Egypt. And he told them what they should do with his body. He did this because he had faith.
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22. By faith G4102 Joseph G2501 , when he died G5053 , made mention G3421 of G4012 the G3588 departing G1841 of the G3588 children G5207 of Israel G2474 ; and G2532 gave commandment G1781 concerning G4012 his G848 bones G3747 .
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23. And the mother and father of Moses hid him for three months after he was born. They did this because they had faith. They saw that Moses was a beautiful baby. And they were not afraid to disobey the king's order.
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23. By faith G4102 Moses G3475 , when he was born G1080 , was hid G2928 three months G5150 of G5259 his G848 parents G3962 , because G1360 they saw G1492 he was a proper G791 child G3813 ; and G2532 they were not afraid G5399 G3756 of the G3588 king G935 's commandment G1297 .
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24. Moses grew up and became a man. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose not to enjoy the pleasures of sin that last such a short time. Instead, he chose to suffer with God's people. He did this because he had faith.
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24. By faith G4102 Moses G3475 , when he was come to years G1096 G3173 , refused G720 to be called G3004 the son G5207 of Pharaoh G5328 's daughter G2364 ;
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25. vnumber="25">
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25. Choosing G138 rather G3123 to suffer affliction with G4778 the G3588 people G2992 of God G2316 , than G2228 to enjoy the pleasures G2192 G619 of sin G266 for a season G4340 ;
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26. He thought it was better to suffer for the Christ than to have all the treasures of Egypt. He was waiting for the reward that God would give him.
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26. Esteeming G2233 the G3588 reproach G3680 of Christ G5547 greater G3187 riches G4149 than the G3588 treasures G2344 in G1722 Egypt G125 : for G1063 he had respect G578 unto G1519 the G3588 recompense of the reward G3405 .
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27. Moses left Egypt because he had faith. He was not afraid of the king's anger. He continued strong as if he could see the God no one can see.
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27. By faith G4102 he forsook G2641 Egypt G125 , not G3361 fearing G5399 the G3588 wrath G2372 of the G3588 king G935 : for G1063 he endured G2594 , as G5613 seeing G3708 him who is invisible G517 .
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28. Moses prepared the Passover and spread the blood on the doorways of the people of Israel, so that the angel of death would not kill their firstborn sons. Moses did this because he had faith.
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28. Through faith G4102 he kept G4160 the G3588 passover G3957 , and G2532 the G3588 sprinkling G4378 of blood G129 , lest G3363 he that destroyed G3645 the G3588 firstborn G4416 should touch G2345 them G846 .
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29. And God's people all walked through the Red Sea as if it were dry land. They were able to do this because they had faith. But when the Egyptians tried to follow them, they were drowned.
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29. By faith G4102 they passed through G1224 the G3588 Red G2063 sea G2281 as G5613 by G1223 dry G3584 land : which G3739 the G3588 Egyptians G124 attempting to do G2983 G3984 were drowned G2666 .
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30. And the walls of Jericho fell because of the faith of God's people. They marched around the walls for seven days, and then the walls fell.
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30. By faith G4102 the G3588 walls G5038 of Jericho G2410 fell down G4098 , after they were compassed about G2944 G1909 seven G2033 days G2250 .
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31. And Rahab, the prostitute, welcomed the Israelite spies like friends. And because of her faith, she was not killed with the ones who refused to obey.
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31. By faith G4102 the G3588 harlot G4204 Rahab G4460 perished G4881 not G3756 with them that believed not G544 , when she had received G1209 the G3588 spies G2685 with G3326 peace G1515 .
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32. Do I need to give you more examples? I don't have enough time to tell you about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets.
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32. And G2532 what G5101 shall I more G2089 say G3004 ? for G1063 the G3588 time G5550 would fail G1952 me G3165 to tell G1334 of G4012 Gideon G1066 , and G5037 of Barak G913 , and G2532 of Samson G4546 , and G2532 of Jephthah G2422 ; of David G1138 also G5037 , and G2532 Samuel G4545 , and G2532 of the G3588 prophets G4396 :
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33. All of them had great faith. And with that faith they defeated kingdoms. They did what was right, and God helped them in the ways he promised. With their faith some people closed the mouths of lions.
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33. Who G3739 through G1223 faith G4102 subdued G2610 kingdoms G932 , wrought G2038 righteousness G1343 , obtained G2013 promises G1860 , stopped G5420 the mouths G4750 of lions G3023 ,
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34. And some were able to stop blazing fires. Others escaped from being killed with swords. Some who were weak were made strong. They became powerful in battle and defeated other armies.
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34. Quenched G4570 the violence G1411 of fire G4442 , escaped G5343 the edge G4750 of the sword G3162 , out of G575 weakness G769 were made strong G1743 , waxed G1096 valiant G2478 in G1722 fight G4171 , turned to flight G2827 the armies G3925 of the aliens G245 .
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35. There were women who lost loved ones but got them back when they were raised from death. Others were tortured but refused to accept their freedom. They did this so that they could be raised from death to a better life.
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35. Women G1135 received G2983 their G848 dead G3498 raised to life again G1537 G386 : and G1161 others G243 were tortured G5178 , not G3756 accepting G4327 deliverance G629 ; that G2443 they might obtain G5177 a better G2909 resurrection G386 :
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36. Some were laughed at and beaten. Others were tied up and put in prison.
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36. And G1161 others G2087 had G2983 trial G3984 of cruel mockings G1701 and G2532 scourgings G3148 , yea G1161 , moreover G2089 of bonds G1199 and G2532 imprisonment G5438 :
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37. They were killed with stones. They were cut in half. They were killed with swords. The only clothes some of them had were sheep skins or goat skins. They were poor, persecuted, and treated badly by others.
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37. They were stoned G3034 , they were sawn asunder G4249 , were tempted G3985 , were slain G599 with G1722 the G5408 sword G3162 : they wandered about G4022 in G1722 sheepskins G3374 and G2532 goatskins G122 G1192 ; being destitute G5302 , afflicted G2346 , tormented G2558 ;
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38. The world was not good enough for these great people. They had to wander in deserts and mountains, living in caves and holes in the ground.
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38. (Of whom G3739 the G3588 world G2889 was G2258 not G3756 worthy:) they G514 wandered G4105 in G1722 deserts G2047 , and G2532 in mountains G3735 , and G2532 in dens G4693 and G2532 caves G3692 of the G3588 earth G1093 .
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39. God was pleased with all of them because of their faith. But not one of them received God's great promise.
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39. And G2532 these G3778 all G3956 , having obtained a good report G3140 through G1223 faith G4102 , received G2865 not G3756 the G3588 promise G1860 :
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40. God planned something better for us. He wanted to make us perfect. Of course, he wanted those great people to be made perfect too, but not before we could all enjoy that blessing together.
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40. God G2316 having provided G4265 some G5100 better thing G2909 for G4012 us G2257 , that G2443 they without G5565 us G2257 should not G3361 be made perfect G5048 .
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