32And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets33who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,34quenched 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.35Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.37They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated38of whom the world was not worthywandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.