thout faith it is
impossible to be acceptable; for he must believe, who cometh unto God,
that he exists, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

(7)By faith Noah, being divinely warned respecting things not yet seen,
filled with reverential awe, prepared an ark for the salvation of his
household, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the
righteousness which is by faith.

(8)By faith Abraham, called to go forth unto a place which he should in
future obtain as an heritage, obeyed; and he went forth, not knowing
whither he was going. (9)By faith he sojourned in the land of promise,
as a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs
of the same promise. (10)For he expected a city having foundations, of
which God is the planner and architect.

(11)By faith also that very Sarah, who was barren, received ability for
the conception of seed, and past the usual time of life brought forth a
child, because she accounted that he who promised it, would be true to
his promise. (12)Wherefore even from one person, and he become dead in
respect to these matters, there sprang a race, as the stars of heaven
for multitude, and as the sand, which is on the shore of the sea,
innumerable. (13)All these died in faith, not having received the
promises, but beholding them at a great distance, though believing and
embracing them, and confessing that they were strangers and sojourners
in the land. (14)Now they who speak thus, shew evidently that they are
in earnest search of their native country. (15)And if indeed they had
fixed their minds on that from whence they had gone forth, they might
have had opportunity to go back to it again. (16)But now their longing
desires are after a better country, that is, the heavenly one:
wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God: for he
hath prepared a city for them.

(17)By faith Abraham, when tried, offered up Isaac; and he who had
received the promise, presented in sacrifice his only begotten son,
(18)unto whom it had been said, "That by Isaac shall there be a seed
bearing thy name[140]:" (19)reasoning that God was able to raise him up
again, even from the dead; from whence also figuratively he had
received him.

(20)By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau with regard to future things.

(21)By faith, dying Jacob blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and bowed
down in adoration upon the top of his staff.

(22)By faith Joseph, approaching his