² For by this our ancestors were approved.

⁴ By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith.^(A)

⁵ By faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away.^[a] For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God.^(B)

³⁹ All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised,