8 By faith ^xAbraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith ^yhe went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the ^zcity that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith ^aSarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful ^bwho had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him ^cas good as dead, were born descendants ^das many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, ^enot having received the things promised, but having ^fseen them and greeted them from afar, and ^ghaving acknowledged that they were strangers and ^hexiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ⁱashamed to be called ^jtheir God, for he has prepared for them a city.

17 ^kBy faith Abraham, ^lwhen he was tested, ^moffered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, ⁿ“Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 ^oHe considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith ^pIsaac invoked future blessings on Jacob ^qand Esau. 21 By faith ^rJacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, ^sbowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith ^tJoseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning ^uhis bones.