Hebrews 11:29-12:2

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

The Faith of Other Israelite Heroes

²⁹ By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned.^{(A) 30} By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days.^{(B) 31} By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient,^[a] because she had received the spies in peace.^(C)

³² And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,^{(D) 34} quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.^{(E) 35} Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection.^{(F) 36} Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment.^{(G) 37} They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two;^[b] they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented^(H)— ³⁸ of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.^(I)

³⁹ Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, ⁴⁰ since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.^(J)

The Example of Jesus

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,^[c] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,^{(K) 2} looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, who for the sake of^[d] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.^(L)