32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, |
33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, |
34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. |
35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. |
36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. |
37 They were stoned6 11:37 Some early manuscripts stoned; they were put to the test; ; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated-- |
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. |
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. |
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. |