6  With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" 8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

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. 30  By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31  By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. 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, 34  quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35  Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37  They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented--38  of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 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. 1  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, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2  looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of 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.