To the most high and mighty Prince James, by the grace of God
King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith , &c.
The translators of The Bible, wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace, through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Great and
manifold were the blessings (most dread Sovereign) which Almighty GOD, the
Father of all Mercies, bestowed upon us the people of ENGLAND, when first he
sent your Majesties Royal person to rule and reign over us. For whereas it was
the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our ZION, that upon the
setting of that bright Occidental Star Queen ELIZABETH of most happy
memory, some thick and palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed
this land, that men should have been in doubt which way they were to walk, and
that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State: the
appearance of your MAJESTIE, as of the Sun in his strength, instantly
dispelled those supposed and surmised mists, and gave unto all that were well
affected, exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the government
established in your HIGHNESSE, and your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title,
and this also accompanied with Peace and tranquility, at home and abroad.
But amongst all
our Joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, then the blessed
continuance of the Preaching of GODS sacred word amongst us, which is that
inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches of the earth, because the
fruit thereof extendeth it self, not only to the time spent in this transitory
world, but directeth and disposeth men unto that Eternal happiness which is
above in Heaven.
Then, not to
suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it
in that state, wherein the famous predecessor of your HIGHNESSE did leave it;
Nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution of a man in maintaining
the truth of CHRIST, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so
bound and firmly knit the hearts of all your MAJESTIES loyal and Religious
people unto you, that your very Name is precious among them, their eye doeth
behold you with comfort, and they bless you in their hearts, as that sanctified
person, who under GOD, is the immediate author of their true happiness. And
this their contentment doeth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth
and taketh strength, when they observe that the zeal of your Majesty towards
the house of GOD, doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled,
manifesting itself abroad in the furthest parts of Christendom, by
writing in defense of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of
Sin, as will not be healed) and every day at home, by Religious and learned
discourse, by frequenting the house of GOD, by hearing the word preached, by
cherishing the teachers thereof, by caring for the Church as a most tender and
loving nursing Father.
There are
infinite arguments of this right Christian and Religious affection in your
MAJESTIE: but none is more forcible to declare it to
others, then the vehement and perpetuated desire of the accomplishing and
publishing of this Work, which now with all humility we present unto your
MAJESTIE. For when your Highnesses had once out of deep judgment apprehended,
how convenient it was, That out of the Original sacred tongues, together with
comparing of the labours, both in our own and other foreign Languages, of many
worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of
the holy Scriptures into the English tongue; your MAJESTIE did never
desist, to urge and to excite those to whom it was commended, that the work
might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a
manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.
And now at
last, by the Mercy of GOD, and the continuance of our Labours, it being brought
unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hope that the Church of England
shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to your
MAJESTIE, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal mover
and Author of the Work. Humbly craving of your most Sacred Majesty, that since
things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of ill meaning
and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and Patronage from so
learned and judicious a Prince as your Highnesses is, whose allowance and
acceptance of our Labours, shall more honour us and encourage us, then all the
calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that,
if on the one side we shall be traduced by Popish persons at home or abroad,
who therefore will malign us, because we are poor Instruments to make GODS holy
Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to
keep in ignorance and darkness: or if on the other side, we shall be maligned
by self-conceited brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto
nothing but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their Anvil; we may
rest secure, supported within by the truth and innocence of a good conscience,
having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; And
sustained without, by the powerful Protection of your Majesties grace and
favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavors,
against bitter censures, and uncharitable imputations.
The LORD of Heaven and earth bless your Majesty
with many and happy days, that as his Heavenly hand hath enriched your
Highnesses with many singular, and extraordinary Graces; so you may be the
wonder of the world in this later age, for happiness and true felicity, to the
honour of that Great GOD, and the good of his Church, through JESUS CHRIST our
Lord and only Saviour.
The Translators To The
Reader
Zeal to promote
the common good, whether it be by devising any thing
ourselves, or revising that which hath been labored by others, deserveth
certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but cold entertainment in
the world. It is welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with emulation
instead of thanks: and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and
cavil, if it do not find an hole, will make one) it is sure to be misconstrued,
and in danger to be condemned. This will easily be granted by as many as know
story, or have any experience. For was there ever any thing projected, that
savoured any way of newness or renewing, but the same endured many a storm of
gainsaying or opposition? A man would think that civility, wholesome laws,
learning and eloquence, synods, and Church maintenance, (that we speak of no
more things of this kind) should be as safe as a sanctuary, and2 out
of shot, as they say, that no man would lift up his heel, no, nor dog move his
tongue against the motioners of them. For by the first we are distinguished
from brute beasts led with sensuality: by the second we are bridled and
restrained from outrageous behaviour, and from doing of injuries, whether by
fraud or by violence: by the third we are enabled to inform and reform others
by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves: briefly, by the
fourth, being brought together to a parley face to face, we sooner compose our
differences, than by writings, which are endless: and lastly, that the Church
be sufficiently provided for is so agreeable to good reason and conscience,
that those mothers are holden to be less cruel, that kill their children as
soon as they are born, than those nursing fathers and mothers, (wheresoever
they be) that withdraw from them who hang upon their breasts (and upon whose
breasts again themselves do hang to receive the spiritual and sincere milk of
the word) livelihood and support fit for their estates. Thus it is apparent,
that these things which we speak of are of most necessary use, and therefore
that none, either without absurdity can speak against them, or without note of
wickedness can spurn against them.
Yet for all
that, the learned know, that certain worthy men3 have been brought
to untimely death for none other fault, but for seeking to reduce their
countrymen to good order and discipline: And that in some Commonweals4
it was made a capital crime, once to motion the making of a new law for the
abrogating of an old, though the same were most pernicious: And that certain,
which would be counted pillars of the State, and patterns of virtue and
prudence, could not be brought for a long time to give way to good letters and
refined speech; but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks or boxes
of poison: And fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great Clerk,5
that gave forth, (and in writing to remain to posterity) in passion
peradventure, but yet he gave forth, That he had not seen any profit to come by
any synod or meeting of the Clergy, but rather the contrary: And lastly, against
Church maintenance and allowance, in such sort as the ambassadors and
messengers of the great King of kings should be furnished, it is not unknown
what a fiction or fable (so it is esteemed, and for no better by the reporter6
himself, though superstitious) was devised: namely, That at such time as the
professors and teachers of Christianity in the Church of Rome, then a true
Church, were liberally endowed, a voice forsooth was heard from heaven, saying,
Now is poison poured down into the Church, etc. Thus not only as oft as we
speak, as one saith, but also as oft as we do any thing of note or consequence,
we subject ourselves to every one's censure, and happy is he that is least
tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible.
If any man
conceit, that this is the lot and portion of the meaner sort only, and that
Princes are privileged by their high estate, he is deceived. As the sword
devoureth as well one as another, as it is in Samuel;7
nay, as the great commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle to strike
at no part of the enemy, but at the face; and as the king of Syria commanded
his chief captains8 to fight neither with small nor great, save
only against the king of Israel: so it is too true, that envy striketh most
spitefully at the fairest, and the chiefest. David was a worthy prince, and no
man to be compared to him for his first deeds; and yet for as worthy an act as
ever he did, even for bringing back the ark of God in solemnity, he was scorned
and scoffed at by his own wife.9 Solomon was greater than David,
though not in virtue, yet in power; and by his power and wisdom he built a
temple to the Lord, such an one as was the glory of the land of Israel, and the
wonder of the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We
doubt of it. Otherwise why do they lay it in his son's dish, and call unto him
for easing10 of the burden? Make, say they, the grievous
servitude of thy father, and his sore yoke, lighter.11 Belike he
had charged them with some levies, and troubled them with some carriages:
hereupon they raise up a tragedy, and wish in their
heart the temple had never been built. So hard a thing it is to please all,
even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every one's
conscience.
If we will
descend to latter times, we shall find many the like examples of such kind, or
rather unkind, acceptance. The first Roman Emperor12 did never do a
more pleasing deed to the learned, nor more profitable to posterity, for
conserving the record of times in true supputation, than when he corrected the
Calendar, and ordered the year according to the course of the sun: and yet this
was imputed to him for novelty and arrogancy, and procured to him great
obloquy. So the first Christened Emperor13 (at the least wise, that
openly professed the faith himself, and allowed others to do the like,) for
strengthening the empire at his great charges, and providing for the Church, as
he did, got for his labour the name Pupillus, as who would say, a
wasteful Prince, that had need of a guardian or overseer. So the best
Christened Emperor,14 for the love that he
bare unto peace, thereby to enrich both himself and his subjects, and because
he did not seek war, but find it, was judged to be no man at arms, (though indeed
he excelled in feats of chivalry, and shewed so much when he was provoked,) and
condemned for giving himself to his ease, and to his pleasure. To be short, the
most learned Emperor of former times, (at the least, the greatest politician,)15 what thanks had he for cutting off the
superfluities of the laws, and digesting them into some order and method? This,
that he hath been blotted by some to be an Epitomist, that is, one that
extinguished worthy whole volumes, to bring his abridgements into request. This
is the measure that hath been rendered to excellent Princes in former times, cum
bene facerent, male audire, for their good deeds to be evil spoken of.
Neither is there any likelihood that envy and malignity died and were buried
with the ancient. No, no, the reproof of Moses taketh hold of most ages; Ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an
increase of sinful men.16 What is that that hath been done? that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under
the sun,17 saith the wise man. And St. Stephen, As your fathers did, so do ye.18
This, and more
to this purpose, his Majesty that now reigneth19 (and long, and
long, may he reign, and his offspring forever,20 Himself, and
children, and children's children always!) knew full well, according to the
singular wisdom given unto him by God, and the rare learning and experience
that he hath attained unto; namely, That whosoever attempteth any thing for the
publick, (especially if it pertain to religion, and to the opening and clearing
of the word of God,) the same setteth himself upon a stage to be glouted upon
by every evil eye; yea, he casteth himself headlong upon pikes, to be gored by
every sharp tongue. For he that meddleth with men's religion in any part
meddleth with their custom, nay, with their freehold; and though they find no
content in that which they have, yet they cannot abide to hear of altering.
Notwithstanding his royal heart was not daunted or discouraged for this or that
colour, but stood resolute,21 as a
statue immoveable, and an anvil not easily to be beaten into plates, as one
saith; he knew who had chosen him to be a soldier, or rather a captain; and
being assured that the course which he intended made much for the glory of God,
and the building up of his Church, he would not suffer it to be broken off for
whatsoever speeches or practices. It doth certainly belong unto kings, yea, it doth specially belong unto them, to have care of
religion, yea, to know it aright, yea, to profess it zealously, yea, to promote
it to the uttermost of their power. This is their glory before all nations
which mean well, and this will bring unto them a far more excellent weight of
glory in the day of the Lord Jesus. For the Scriptures saith not in vain, Them
that honour me I will honour:22 neither was it a vain word that
Eusebius23 delivered long ago, That piety toward God was the weapon,
and the only weapon, that both preserved Constantine's person, and avenged him
of his enemies.
But now what
piety without truth? What truth, what saving truth, without the word of God?
What word of God, whereof we may be sure, without the Scriptures? The
Scriptures we are commanded to search, John v. 39. Isai.
viii. 20. They are commended that searched and studied them, Acts xvii. 11, and vii. 28, 29. They are
reproved that were unskilful in them, or slow to believe them, Matth.
xxii. 29. Luke xxiv. 25. They can make us wise
unto salvation, 2 Tim. iii. 15. If we be ignorant, they will
instruct us; if out of the way, they will bring us home; if out of order, they
will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold,
inflame us. Tolle, lege; tolle, lege;24 Take up and read, take up
and read the Scriptures, (for unto them was the direction) it was said unto
But how shall
men meditate in that which they cannot understand? How shall they understand
that which is kept close in an unknown tongue? as it
is written, Except I know the power of the voice, I shall be to him that
speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian to me.34
The apostle excepteth no tongue; not Hebrew the ancientest, not Greek the most
copious, not Latin the finest. Nature taught a natural man to confess, that all
of us in those tongues which we do not understand are plainly deaf; we may turn
the deaf ear unto them.35 The Scythian counted the Athenian, whom he
did not understand, barbarous: so the Roman did the Syrian, and the Jew: (even
St. Hierome36 himself calleth the Hebrew tongue barbarous; belike,
because it was strange to so many:) so the Emperor of Constantinople37
calleth the Latin tongue barbarous, though Pope Nicolas38 do storm
at it: so the Jews long before Christ called all other nations Lognasim,
which is little better than barbarous. Therefore as one39
complaineth that always in the Senate of Rome there was one or other that
called for an interpreter; so lest the Church be driven to the like exigent, it
is necessary to have translations in a readiness. Translation it is that openeth
the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the
kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most holy
place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water; even
as Jacob40 rolled away the stone from the mouth of the well, by
which means the flocks of Laban were watered. Indeed without translation into
the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are but like children at Jacob's well41
(which was deep) without a bucket or something to draw with: or as that person
mentioned by Esay,42 to whom when a sealed
book was delivered with this motion, Read this, I pray thee, he was fain
to make this answer, I cannot, for it is sealed.
While God would
be known only in Jacob, and have his name great in Israel, and in none other
place; while the dew lay on Gideon's fleece only, and all the earth besides was
dry; then for one and the same people, which spake all of them the language of
Canaan, that is, Hebrew, one and the same original in Hebrew was sufficient.
But when the fulness of time drew near, that the Sun of righteousness, the Son
of God, should come into the world, whom God ordained to be a reconciliation
through faith in his blood, not of the Jew only, but also of the Greek, yea, of
all them that were scattered abroad; then, lo, it pleased the Lord to stir up
the spirit of a Greek prince, (Greek for descent and language) even of Ptolemy
Philadelph king of Egypt, to procure the translating of the book of God out of
Hebrew into Greek. This is the translation of the Seventy
interpreters, commonly so called, which prepared the way for our Saviour among
the Gentiles by written preaching, as St. John Baptist did among the Jews by
vocal. For the Grecians, being desirous of learning, were not wont to suffer
books of worth to lie moulding in kings' libraries, but had many of their
servants, ready scribes, to copy them out, and so they were dispersed and made
common. Again, the Greek tongue was well known and made familiar to most
inhabitants in
There were also
within a few hundred years after Christ translations many into the Latin
tongue; for this tongue also was very fit to convey the Law and the Gospel by,
because in those times very many countries of the West, yea, of the South,
East, and North, spake or understood Latin, being made provinces to the Romans.
But now the Latin translations were too many to be all good; for they were
infinite: (Latini interpretes nullo modo numerari possunt, saith St.
Augustine.47) Again, they were not out of the Hebrew
fountain, (we speak of the Latin translations of the Old Testament) but out of
the Greek stream; therefore the Greek being not altogether clear, the Latin
derived from it must needs be muddy. This moved St. Hierome,
a most learned Father, and the best linguist without controversy of his age, or
of any other that went before him, to undertake the translating of the Old
Testament out of the very fountains themselves; which he performed with that
evidence of great learning, judgment, industry, and faithfulness, that he hath
for ever bound the Church unto him in a special remembrance and thankfulness.
Now though the
Church were thus furnished with Greek and Latin translations, even before the
faith of Christ was generally embraced in the Empire: (for the learned know,
that even in St. Hierome's48 time the Consul of Rome and his wife
were both Ethnicks, and about the same time the
greatest part of the Senate also) yet for all that the godly learned were not
content to have the Scriptures in the language which themselves understood,
Greek and Latin, (as the good lepers were not content to fare well themselves,
but acquainted their neighbours with the store that
God had sent, that they also might provide for themselves,49) but
also for the behoof and edifying of the unlearned,
which hungered and thirsted after righteousness, and had souls to be saved as
well as they, they provided translations into the vulgar for their countrymen,
insomuch that most nations under heaven did shortly after their conversion hear
Christ speaking unto them in their mother tongue, not by the voice of their
minister only, but also by the written word translated. If any doubt hereof, he
may be satisfied by examples enough, if enough will serve the turn. First, St.
Hierome50 saith, Multarum gentium linguis Scriptura ante translata docet falsa esse
quæ addita sunt, etc., that is, The Scripture being translated
before in the languages of many nations doth shew that those things that were
added (by Lucian or Hesychius) are false. So St. Hierome in that place. The
same Hierome51 elsewhere affirmeth that
he, the time was, had set forth the translation of the Seventy, suæ linguæ hominibus;
that is, for his countrymen of Dalmatia. Which words
not only Erasmus doth understand to purport, that St. Hierome
translated the Scripture into the Dalmatian tongue; but also Sixtus Senensis,52 and Alphonsus
a Castro,53 (that we speak of no more) men not to be excepted
against by them of Rome, do ingenuously confess as much. So St. Chrysostome,54 that lived in St. Hierome's
time, giveth evidence with him: The doctrine of St. John (saith he) did
not in such sort (as the Philosophers' did) vanish away: but the
Syrians, Egyptians, Indians, Persians, Ethiopians, and infinite other nations,
being barbarous people, translated it into their (mother) tongue, and have
learned to be (true) Philosophers, he meaneth Christians. To this may be
added Theodoret,55
as next unto him both for antiquity, and for learning. His words be these, Every
country that is under the sun is full of these words, (of the Apostles and
Prophets;) and the Hebrew tongue (he meaneth the Scriptures in the Hebrew
tongue) is turned not only into the language of the Grecians, but also of
the Romans, and Egyptians, and Persians, and Indians, and Armenians, and
Scythians, and Sauromatians, and, briefly, into all
the languages that any nation useth. So he. In like manner Ulpilas is
reported by Paulus Diaconus56 and Isidore,57
and before them by Sozomen,58 to have translated the Scriptures into
the Gothick tongue: John Bishop of Sevil, by Vasseus,59 to have turned them into Arabick about the year of our Lord 717: Beda, by Cistertiensis, to have
turned a great part of them into Saxon:60 Efnard,
by Trithemius, to have abridged the French Psalter
(as Beda had done the Hebrew) about the year
800; King Alured, by the said Cistertiensis,
to have turned the Psalter into Saxon: Methodius,
by Aventinus,61 (printed at Ingolstad) to
have turned the Scriptures into Sclavonian:62 Valdo Bishop of Frising, by Beatus Rhenanus,63 to have caused about that
time the Gospels to be translated into Dutch rhyme, yet extant in the
library of Corbinian: Valdus,
by divers, to have turned them himself, or to have gotten them turned into French,
about the year 1160: Charles the Fifth of that name, surnamed The wise,
to have caused them to be turned into French about 200 years after Valdus' time; of which translation there be many copies yet
extant, as witnesseth Beroaldus.64 Much
about that time, even in our King Richard the Second's days, John Trevisa translated them into English, and many English
Bibles in written hand are yet to be seen with divers; translated, as it is
very probable, in that age. So the Syrian translation of the New Testament is
in most learned men's libraries, of Widminstadius'
setting forth; and the Psalter in Arabick is with
many, of Augustinus Nebiensis'
setting forth. So Postel affirmeth, that in his
travel he saw the Gospels in the Ethiopian tongue: And Ambrose Thesius allegeth the Psalter of
the Indians, which he testifieth to have been set
forth by Potken in Syrian characters. So that to have
the Scriptures in the mother tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken up,
either by the Lord Cromwell in England, or by the Lord Radevile
in Polony, or by the Lord Ungnadius
in the Emperor's dominion, but hath been thought upon, and put in practice of
old, even from the first times of the conversion of any nation; no doubt,
because it was esteemed most profitable to cause faith to grow in men's hearts
the sooner, and to make them to be able to say with the words of the Psalm, As
we have heard, so we have seen.65
Now the church
of Rome would seem at the length to bear a motherly affection toward her
children, and to allow them the Scriptures in the mother tongue; but indeed it
is a gift, not deserving to be called a gift,66 an unprofitable
gift: they must first get a licence in writing before
they may use them; and to get that, they must approve themselves to their
Confessor, that is, to be such as are, if not frozen in the dregs, yet sowered with the leaven of their superstition. Howbeit it
seemed too much to Clement the Eighth, that there should be any licence granted to have them in the vulgar tongue, and
therefore he overruleth and frustrateth
the grant of Pius the Fourth.67 So much are they afraid of the light
of the Scripture, (Lucifugæ Scripturarum, as Tertullian68 speaketh) that
they will not trust the people with it, no not as it is set forth by their own
sworn men, no not with the licence of their own
Bishops and Inquisitors. Yea, so unwilling they are to communicate the Scriptures
to the people's understanding in any sort, that they are not ashamed to
confess, that we forced them to translate it into English against their wills.
This seemeth to argue a bad cause, or a bad
conscience, or both. Sure we are, that it is not he that hath good gold, that
is afraid to bring it to the touchstone, but he that hath the counterfeit;
neither is it the true man that shunneth the light,
but the malefactor, lest his deeds should be reproved;69
neither is it the plain dealing merchant that is unwilling to have the weights,
or the meteyard, brought in place, but he that useth deceit. But we will let them alone for this fault,
and return to translation.
Many men's
mouths have been opened a good while (and yet are not stopped) with speeches about
the translation so long in hand, or rather perusals of translations made
before: and ask what may be the reason, what the necessity of the employment.
Hath the church been deceived, say they, all this while? Hath her sweet bread
been mingled with leaven, her silver with dross, her wine with water, her milk
with lime? (lacte
gypsum male miscetur, saith St. Irenee.70)
We hoped that we had been in the right way, that we had had the oracles of God
delivered unto us, and that though all the world had
cause to be offended, and to complain, yet that we had none. Hath the nurse holden out the breast, and nothing but wind in it? hath the bread been delivered by the Fathers of the Church,
and the same proved to be lapidosus, as
Seneca speaketh? What is it to handle the word of God deceitfully, if this be
not? Thus certain brethren. Also the adversaries of
We will answer
them both briefly: and the former, being brethren, thus with St. Hierome,72 Damnamus veteres? Minime, sed post priorum
studia in domo Domini quod possumus laboramus.
That is, Do we condemn the ancient? In no
case: but after the endeavours of them that were
before us, we take the best pains we can in the house of God. As if he
said, Being provoked by the example of the learned that lived before my time, I
have thought it my duty to assay, whether my talent in the knowledge of the
tongues may be profitable in any measure to God's Church, lest I should seem to
have laboured in them in vain, and lest I should be
thought to glory in men (although ancient) above that which was in them. Thus
St. Hierome may be thought to speak.
And to the same
effect say we, that we are so far off from condemning any of their labours that travelled before us
in this kind, either in this land, or beyond sea, either in King Henry's time,
or King Edward's, (if there were any translation, or correction of a translation,
in his time) or Queen Elizabeth's of ever renowned memory, that we acknowledge
them to have been raised up of God for the building and furnishing of his
Church, and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting
remembrance. The judgment of Aristotle73 is worthy and well known: If
Timotheus had not been, we had not had such sweet musick: but if Phrynis (Timotheus' master) had not been, we had not had Timotheus. Therefore blessed be they, and most honoured be their name, that break
the ice, and give the onset upon that which helpeth
forward to the saving of souls. Now what can be more available thereto, than to
deliver God's book unto God's people in a tongue which they understand? Since
of an hidden treasure, and of a fountain that is sealed, there is no profit, as
Ptolemy Philadelph wrote to the Rabbins
or masters of the Jews, as witnesseth Epiphanius:74
and as St. Augustine75 saith, A man had rather be with his dog
than with a stranger (whose tongue is strange unto him). Yet for all that,
as nothing is begun and perfected at the same time, and the latter thoughts are
thought to be the wiser, so if we building upon their foundation that went
before us, and being holpen by their labours, do endeavour to make
that better which they left so good; no man, we are sure, hath cause to mislike us; they, we persuade ourselves, if they were
alive, would thank us. The vintage of Abiezer, that
strake the stroke: yet the gleaning of grapes of Ephraim was not to be
despised. See Judges viii. 2. Joash
the king of Israel did not satisfy himself till he had smitten the ground three
times; and yet he offended the Prophet for giving over then.76 Aquila, of whom we spake before, translated the Bible as
carefully and as skilfully as he could; and yet he thought
good to go over it again, and then it got the credit with the Jews, to be
called κατ_ _κρίβειαv,
that is, accurately done, as St. Hierome77 witnesseth.
How many books of profane learning have been gone over again and again, by the
same translators, by others? Of one and the same book of Aristotle's Ethicks there are extant not so few as six or seven several
translations. Now if this cost may be bestowed upon the gourd, which affordeth us a little shade, and which to day flourisheth, but to morrow is cut down; what may we bestow,
nay, what ought we not to bestow, upon the vine, the fruit whereof maketh glad
the conscience of man, and the stem whereof abideth for ever? And this is the
word of God, which we translate. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.78 Tanti
vitreum, quanti verum margaritum! (saith Tertullian.79) If a toy of glass be of that
reckoning with us, how ought we to value the true pearl! Therefore let no man's
eye be evil, because his Majesty's is good; neither let any be grieved, that we
have a Prince that seeketh the increase of the
spiritual wealth of Israel: (let Sanballats and Tobiahs do so, which therefore do bear their just reproof;)
but let us rather bless God from the ground of our heart for working this
religious care in him to have the translations of the Bible maturely considered
of and examined. For by this means it cometh to pass, that whatsoever is sound
already, (and all is sound for substance in one or other of our editions, and
the worst of ours far better than their authentick
vulgar) the same will shine as gold more brightly, being rubbed and polished;
also, if any thing be halting, or superfluous, or not so agreeable to the
original, the same may be corrected, and the truth set in place. And what can
the King command to be done, that will bring him more true honour than this?
And wherein could they that have been set a work approve their duty to the
King, yea, their obedience to God, and love to his Saints, more, than by
yielding their service, and all that is within them, for the furnishing of the
work? But besides all this, they were the principal motives of it, and
therefore ought least to quarrel it. For the very historical truth is, that
upon the importunate petitions of the Puritanes at
his Majesty's coming to this crown, the conference at Hampton-court having been
appointed for hearing their complaints, when by force of reason they were put
from all other grounds, they had recourse at the last to this shift, that they
could not with good conscience subscribe to the communion book, since it
maintained the Bible as it was there translated, which was, as they said, a
most corrupted translation. And although this was judged to be but a very poor
and empty shift, yet even hereupon did his Majesty begin to bethink himself of
the good that might ensue by a new translation, and presently after gave order
for this translation which is now presented unto thee. Thus
much to satisfy our scrupulous brethren.
Now to the
latter we answer, That we do not deny, nay, we affirm and avow, that the very
meanest translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our
profession, (for we have seen none of their's of the
whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay,
is the word of God: as the King's speech which he uttered in Parliament, being
translated into French, Dutch, Italian, and Latin, is still the King's speech,
though it be not interpreted by every translator with the like grace, nor
peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor so expressly for sense, everywhere. For
it is confessed, that things are to take their denomination of the greater
part; and a natural man could say, Verum ubi multa nitent
in carmine, non ego paucis offendar
maculis, etc.80 A man may be counted a
virtuous man, though he have made many slips in his life, (else there were none
virtuous, for in many things we offend all,81) also a comely
man and lovely, though he have some warts upon his hand; yea, not only freckles
upon his face, but also scars. No cause therefore why the word translated
should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current, notwithstanding
that some imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it.
For what ever was perfect under the sun, where Apostles or apostolick
men, that is, men endued with an extraordinary measure of God's Spirit, and
privileged with the privilege of infallibility, had not their hand? The
Romanists therefore in refusing to hear, and daring to burn the word
translated, did no less than despite the Spirit of grace, from whom originally
it proceeded, and whose sense and meaning, as well as man's weakness would
enable, it did express. Judge by an example or two.
Plutarch82
writeth, that after that
And whereas
they urge for their second defence of their vilifying
and abusing of the English Bibles, or some pieces thereof, which they meet
with, for that hereticks forsooth were the authors of
the translations: (hereticks they call us by the same
right that they call themselves catholicks, both
being wrong:) we marvel what divinity taught them so.
We are sure Tertullian84 was of another mind: Ex personis probamus fidem, an ex fide personas? Do we try men's faith by
their persons? We should try their persons by their faith. Also St. Augustine85
was of another mind: for he, lighting upon certain rules made by Tychonius a Donatist for the
better understanding of the word, was not ashamed to make use of them, yea, to
insert them into his own book, with giving commendation to them so far forth as
they were worthy to be commended, as is to be seen in St. Augustine's third
book De Doctr. Christ. To be short, Origen, and the whole Church of God for certain hundred
years, were of another mind: for they were so far from treading under foot
(much more from burning) the translation of Aquila a
proselyte, that is, one that had turned Jew, of Symmachus,
and Theodotion both Ebionites,
that is, most vile hereticks, that they joined them
together with the Hebrew original, and the translation of the Seventy
(as hath been before signified out of Epiphanius) and
set them forth openly to be considered of and perused by all. But we weary the
unlearned, who need not know so much; and trouble the learned, who know it
already.
Yet before we
end, we must answer a third cavil and objection of their's
against us, for altering and amending our translations so oft; wherein truly
they deal hardly and strangely with us. For to whom ever was it imputed for a
fault (by such as were wise,) to go over that which he had done, and to amend
it where he saw cause? St. Augustine86 was not afraid to exhort St. Hierome to a Palinodia or
recantation. The same St. Augustine87 was not ashamed to retractate, we might say, revoke, many things that had
passed him, and doth even glory that he seeth his
infirmities.88 If we will be sons of the truth, we must consider what
it speaketh, and trample upon our own credit, yea, and upon other men's too, if
either be any way an hinderance to it. This to the cause. Then to the persons we say,
that of all men they ought to be most silent in this case. For what varieties
have they, and what alterations have they made, not only of their service
books, portesses, and breviaries, but also of their
Latin translation? The service book supposed to be made by St. Ambrose, (Officium Ambrosianum) was a
great while in special use and request:89
but Pope Adrian, calling a council with the aid of Charles the Emperor,
abolished it, yea, burnt it, and commanded the service book of St. Gregory
universally to be used. Well, Officium Gregorianum gets by this means to be in credit; but
doth it continue without change or altering? No, the very Roman service was of
two fashions; the new fashion, and the old, the one used in one Church, and the
other in another; as is to be seen in Pamelius a
Romanist, his preface before Micrologus.
The same Pamelius reporteth
out of Radulphus de Rivo,
that about the year of our Lord 1277 Pope Nicolas the third removed out of the
churches of Rome the more ancient books (of service,) and brought into use the
missals of the Friers Minorites,
and commanded them to be observed there; insomuch that about an hundred years
after, when the above named Radulphus happened to be
at Rome, he found all the books to be new, of the new stamp. Neither was there
this chopping and changing in the more ancient times only, but also of late.
Pius Quintus himself confesseth, that every bishoprick almost had a peculiar kind of service, most
unlike to that which others had; which moved him to abolish all other
breviaries, though never so ancient, and privileged and published by Bishops in
their Dioceses, and to establish and ratify that only which was of his own
setting forth in the year 1568. Now when the Father of their church, who gladly
would heal the sore of the daughter of his people softly and slightly, and make
the best of it, findeth so great fault with them for
their odds, and jarring; we hope the children have no great cause to vaunt of
their uniformity. But the difference that appeareth
between our translations, and our often correcting of them, is the thing that
we are specially charged with; let us see therefore whether they themselves be
without fault this way, (if it be to be counted a fault, to correct) and
whether they be fit men to throw stones at us: O tandem major parcas insane minori: They
that are less sound themselves ought not to object infirmities to others. If we
should tell them, that Valla, Stapulensis,
Erasmus, and Vives, found fault with their vulgar
translation, and consequently wished the same to be mended, or a new one to be
made; they would answer peradventure, that we produced their enemies for
witnesses against them; albeit they were in no other sort enemies, than as St.
Paul was to the Galatians, for telling them the truth;90 and it were
to be wished, that they had dared to tell it them plainlier
and oftner. But what will they say to this, That Pope
Leo the Tenth allowed Erasmus' translation of the new
Testament, so much different from the vulgar, by his apostolic letter and bull?
That the same Leo91 exhorted Pagnine to
translate the whole Bible, and bare whatsoever charges
was necessary for the work? Surely, as the apostle reasoneth
to the Hebrews,92 that if the former Law and Testament had been
sufficient, there had been no need of the latter: so we may say, that if
the old vulgar had been at all points allowable, to small purpose had labour
and charges been undergone about framing of a new. If they say, it was one
Pope's private opinion, and that he consulted only himself; then we are able to
go further with them, and to aver, that more of their chief men of all sorts,
even their own Trent champions, Paiva and Vega, and
their own inquisitor Hieronymus ab Oleastro, and their own Bishop Isidorus
Clarius, and their own Cardinal Thomas a vio Cajetan, do either make new
translations themselves, or follow new ones of other men's making, or note the
vulgar interpreter for halting, none of them fear to dissent from him, nor yet
to except against him. And call they this an uniform
tenor of text and judgment about the text, so many of their worthies
disclaiming the new received conceit? Nay, we will yet come nearer the quick.
Doth not their
But it is high
time to leave them, and to shew in brief what we proposed to ourselves, and
what course we held, in this our perusal and survey of the Bible. Truly, good
Christian Reader, we never thought from the beginning that we should need to
make a new translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; (for then the
imputation of Sixtus had been true in some sort, that
our people had been fed with gall of dragons instead of wine, with wheal
instead of milk;) but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones one
principal good one, not justly to be excepted against; that hath been our endeavour, that our mark. To that purpose there were many
chosen, that were greater in other men's eyes than in their own, and that
sought the truth rather than their own praise. Again, they came, or were
thought to come, to the work, not exercendi
causa, (as one saith) but exercitati,
that is, learned, not to learn; for the chief overseer and _ργoδιώκτης
under his Majesty, to whom not only we, but also our whole Church was much
bound, knew by his wisdom, which thing also Nazianzen94 taught so
long ago, that it is a preposterous order to teach first, and to learn after;
that τ_ _v πίθ_ κεραμίαv μαvθάvειv,95
to learn and practise together, is neither commendable for the workman, nor
safe for the work. Therefore such were thought upon, as could say modestly with
St. Hierome, Et Hebræum sermonem ex parte didicimus, et in Latino pene ab ipsis incunabilis,
etc. detriti sumus; Both we
have learned the Hebrew tongue in part, and in the Latin we have been exercised
almost from our very cradle. St. Hierome maketh
no mention of the Greek tongue, wherein yet he did excel; because he translated
not the Old Testament out of Greek, but out of Hebrew. And in what sort did
these assemble? In the trust of their own knowledge, or of their sharpness of
wit, or deepness of judgment, as it were in an arm of flesh? At
no hand. They trusted in Him that hath the key of David, opening, and no
man shutting; they prayed to the Lord, the Father of our Lord, to the effect
that St. Augustine96 did; O let thy Scriptures be my pure
delight; let me not be deceived in them, neither let me deceive by them. In
this confidence, and with this devotion, did they assemble together; not too
many, lest one should trouble another; and yet many, lest many things haply
might escape them. If you ask what they had before them; truly it was the
Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the Greek of the New. These are the two
golden pipes, or rather conduits, wherethrough the
olive branches empty themselves into the gold. St.
Augustine97 calleth them precedent, or
original, tongues; St. Hierome,98
fountains. The same St. Hierome99 affirmeth,
and Gratian hath not spared to put it into his
decree, That as the credit of the old books (he meaneth of the Old
Testament) is to be tried by the Hebrew volumes; so of the new by the Greek
tongue, he meaneth by the original Greek. If truth be to be tried by these
tongues, then whence should a translation be made, but out of them? These
tongues therefore, (the Scriptures, we say, in those tongues) we set before us
to translate, being the tongues wherein God was pleased to speak to his Church
by his Prophets and Apostles. Neither did we run over the work with that
posting haste that the Septuagint did,100 if that be true
which is reported of them, that they finished it in seventy two days; neither
were we barred or hindered from going over it again, having once done it, like
St. Hierome,101 if that be true which himself reporteth,
that he could no sooner write any thing, but presently it was caught from him,
and published, and he could not have leave to mend it: neither, to be short,
were we the first that fell in hand102 with translating the
Scripture into English, and consequently destitute of former helps, as it is
written of Origen, that he was the first in a manner,
that put his hand to write commentaries upon the Scriptures, and therefore no
marvel if he overshot himself many times. None of these things: The work hath
not been huddled up in seventy two days, but hath costs the workmen, as light
as it seemeth, the pains of twice seven times seventy
two days, and more. Matters of such weight and consequence are to be speeded
with maturity:103 for in a business of
moment a man feareth not the blame of convenient slackness. Neither did we
think much to consult the translators or commentators, Chaldee,
Hebrew, Syrian, Greek, or Latin; no, nor the Spanish, French, Italian, or Dutch;
neither did we disdain to revise that which we had done, and to bring back to
the anvil that which we had hammered: but having and using as great helps as
were needful, and fearing no reproach for slowness, or coveting praise for
expedition, we have at length, through the good hand of the Lord upon us,
brought the work to that pass that you see.
Some
peradventure would have no variety of senses to be set in the margin, lest the
authority of the Scriptures for deciding of controversies by that shew of uncertainty
should somewhat be shaken. But we hold their judgment not to be so sound in
this point. For though, whatsoever things are necessary are manifest,104
as St. Chrysostome saith; and, as St. Augustine,105
in those things that are plainly set down in the Scriptures all such matters
are found, that concern faith, hope, and charity: Yet for all that it
cannot be dissembled, that partly to exercise and whet our wits, partly to wean
the curious from lothing of them for their every
where plainness, partly also to stir up our devotion to crave the assistance of
God's Spirit by prayer, and lastly, that we might be forward to seek aid of our
brethren by conference, and never scorn those that be not in all respects so
complete as they should be, being to seek in many things ourselves, it hath
pleased God in his Divine Providence here and there to scatter words and
sentences of that difficulty and doubtfulness, not in doctrinal points that
concern salvation, (for in such it hath been vouched that the Scriptures are
plain,) but in matters of less moment, that fearfulness would better beseem us
than confidence, and if we will resolve, to resolve upon modesty with St.
Augustine,106 (though not in this same case altogether, yet upon the
same ground) Melius est
dubitare de occultis, quam litigare de incertis: It is better to make doubt of those things
which are secret, than to strive about those things that are uncertain. There
be many words in the Scriptures, which be never found there but once,107 (having neither brother nor neighbor, as the
Hebrews speak) so that we cannot be holpen by
conference of places. Again, there be many rare names
of certain birds, beasts, and precious stones, etc., concerning which the
Hebrews themselves are so divided among themselves for judgment, that they may
seem to have defined this or that, rather because they would say something,
than because they were sure of that which they said, as St. Hierome108
somewhere saith of the Septuagint. Now, in such a case, doth not a
margin do well to admonish the Reader to seek further, and not to conclude or
dogmatize upon this or that peremptorily? For as it is a fault of incredulity,
to doubt of those things that are evident; so to determine of such things as
the Spirit of God hath left (even in the judgment of the judicious)
questionable, can be no less than presumption. Therefore, as St. Augustine109
saith, that variety of translations is profitable for the finding out of the
sense of the Scriptures: so diversity of signification and sense in the margin,
where the text is not so clear, must needs do good;
yea, is necessary, as we are persuaded. We know that Sixtus
Quintus110 expressly forbiddeth that any
variety of readings of their vulgar edition should be put in the margin; (which
though it be not altogether the same thing to that we have in hand, yet it
looketh that way;) but we think he hath not all of his own side his favourers for this conceit. They that are wise had rather
have their judgments at liberty in differences of readings, than to be captivated
to the one, when it may be the other. If they were sure that their high priest
had all laws shut up in his breast, as Paul the Second bragged,111
and that he were as free from error by special privilege, as the dictators of
Rome were made by law inviolable, it were another matter; then his word were an
oracle, his opinion a decision. But the eyes of the world are now open, God be
thanked, and have been a great while; they find that he is subject to the same
affections112 and infirmities that others be, that his skin is
penetrable;113 and therefore so much as he proveth,
not as much as he claimeth, they grant and embrace.
Another thing
we think good to admonish thee of, gentle Reader, that we have not tied
ourselves to an uniformity of phrasing, or to an identity of words, as some
peradventure would wish that we had done, because they observe, that some
learned men somewhere have been as exact as they could that way. Truly, that we
might not vary from the sense of that which we had translated before, if the
word signified the same thing in both places, (for there be some words that be
not of the same sense every where,114) we
were especially careful, and made a conscience, according to our duty. But that
we should express the same notion in the same particular word; as for example,
if we translate the Hebrew or Greek word once by purpose, never to call
it intent; if one where journeying, never travelling;
if one where think, never suppose; if one where pain,
never ache; if one where joy, never gladness, &c. Thus
to mince the matter, we thought to savour more of
curiosity than wisdom, and that rather it would breed scorn in the atheist,
than bring profit to the godly reader. For is the
Many other
things we might give thee warning of, gentle Reader, if we had not exceeded the
measure of a preface already. It remaineth that we commend thee to God, and to
the Spirit of his grace, which is able to build further than we can ask or
think. He removeth the scales from our eyes, the vail from our hearts, opening our wits that we may
understand his word, enlarging our hearts, yea, correcting our affections, that
we may love it above gold and silver, yea, that we may love it to the end. Ye
are brought unto fountains of living water which ye digged
not;117 do not cast earth into them, with the Philistines, neither
prefer broken pits before them, with the wicked Jews.118 Others have
laboured, and you may enter into their labours. O receive not so great
things in vain: O despise not so great salvation. Be not like swine to tread
under foot so precious things. Say not to our Saviour with the Gergesites,119 Depart out of our coasts; neither yet with
Esau120 sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. If light be come
into the world, love not darkness more than light: if food, if clothing, be
offered, go not naked, starve not yourselves. Remember the advice of Nazianzene,121 It is a grievous thing (or dangerous)
to neglect a great fair, and to seek to make markets afterwards: also
the encouragement of St. Chrysostome,122 It is altogether
impossible, that he that is sober (and watchful) should at any time be
neglected: lastly, the admonition and menacing of St. Augustine,123
They that despise God's will inviting them, shall feel God's will taking
vengeance of them. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God;124 but a blessed thing it is,
and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto
us, to hearken; when he setteth his word before us,
to read it; when he stretcheth out his hand and calleth, to answer, here am I, here are we to do thy will,
O God. The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know him and serve him, that
we may be acknowledged of him at the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to
whom with the Holy Ghost be all praise and thanksgiving. Amen.
Notes
1
An account of these learned and judicious translators will be found in
the Introduction to the Work; one of whom, Dr. Smith, afterwards Bishop of Glocester, wrote this excellent Preface.
2 _ξω βέλoυς. 3 Anacharsis, with others.
4 In
5 Gregory the Divine. 6 Nauclerus. 7 2 Sam. 11. 25.
8 1 Kin. 22. 31. 9 2 Sam. 6. 16. 10 σεισάχθειαv.
11 I Kin. 12. 4. 12 C.
Cæsar. Plutarch. 13
14 Aurl. Vict. Theodosius.
Zosimus. 15 Justinian.
16 Num. 32. 14. 17 Eccles. 1. 9. 18 Acts 7. 51.
19 King James I. 20 Α_τ_ς,
κα_ πα_δες,
κα_ παίδωv
πάvτoτε πα_δες.
21 _Ωσπερ τις _vδρι_ς
_περίτρεπτoς
κα_ _κμωv
_vήλατoς, Suidas. 22 1 Sam. 2. 30.
23 Θεoσέβεια, Eusebius, lib. 10, cap. 8. 24
25
27
30 Ο_όv τε, Justin. πρoτρεπτ. πρ_ς _Ελληv.
31 _Υπερηφαvίας
κατηγoρία, St.
Basil. περ_
πίστεως.
32 Ε_ρεσιώvη σ_κα
φέρει, κα_
πίovας _ρτoυς,
κα_ μέλι
_v κoτύλ_, κα_
_λαιov. κ.
τ. λ. An olive bough wrapped about with wool, whereupon did hang figs
and bread, and honey in a pot, and oil.
33 Κoιv_v _ατρε_ov,
St. Basil in Psal. primum. 34 1 Cor. 14. 11.
35 Clem. Alex. 1. Strom. 36
38 2 Tom. Concil. ex edit. Petri Crab. 39
40 Gen. 29. 10. 41 John 4. 11. 42 Isai. 29. 11.
43 Epipahn. De mensuris
et ponderib.
44 Novel. diatax. 146. Πρoφητικ_ς
_σπερ χάριτoς
περιλαμψάσης
α_τoύς.
45 Isai. 31. 3. 46
47
49 2 Kin. 7. 9. 50
51
54
56 P. Diacon. lib. 12. 57 Isid. in Chron. Goth. 58 Sozom.
lib. 6, cap. 57.
59 Vasseus in Chro. Hisp. 60 Polydor. virg. 5., hist. Anglorum testatur idem de Aluredo nostro.
61 Aventin. lib. 4. 62 Circa annum 900. 63 B. Rhenan.
rerum German. lib. 2.
64 Beroald. Thuan. 65 Psal. 48. 8. 66 Δ¢ ρov _δωρόv
κ_o_κ _vήσιμov.
Sophocl.
67 See the observation (set
forth by Clement's authority) upon the 4th rule of
Pius the 4th's making in the Index lib. prohib. page 15, ver. 5.
68 Tetull. de
resur. carnis. 69 John 3. 20. 70 St.
Iren. lib. 3, cap. 19.
71 Neh. 4. 2, 3. 72
73 Arist. 2. Metaphys.
cap. 1. 74
75
77
79 Tertull. ad
Martyr. Si tanti vilissimum vitrum, quanti preciosissimum margaritum! Hier. ad Salvin.
80 Horace 81
83 Ezra 3. 12. 84 Tertull.
de præscript. contra hæeses.
85
86
89 Durand. lib. 5, cap. 2. 90 Gal.
4. 16. 91 Sixtus Senens.
92 Heb. 7. 11, & 8. 7. 93 Sixtus 5, Præf.
fixa bibliis. 94 Nazianz. ε_ς ρv.
_πισκ. παρoυσ.
95 Idem in Apologet. 96
97
99
101
103 Φιλε_ γ_ρ
_κvε_v πραγμ_
_v_ρ πράσσωv
μέγα. Sophocl. in Elect.
104 πάvτα τ_ _vαγκα_α δ_λα. St. Chrysost. in 2 Thess. cap. 2.
105
107 _παξ λεγόμεvα. 108 Hier. in
Ezek. cap. 3. 109
110 Sixtus 5. Præf.
Bibl. 111 Plat. in Paulo secundo. 112
_μoιoπαθ_ς.
113 Τρωτός
γ_ o_ χρώς _στί. 114 πoλύσημα.
115 Abed. Niceph. Calist. lib. 8,
cap. 42. St. Hieron. in
4. Jonæ. See
116 λεπτoλoγία. _δoλεσχία. τ_ σπoυδάζειv
_π_ _vόμασι. See Euseb. πρoπαρασκ.
lib. 2, ex Plat.
117 Gen. 26. 15. 118 Jer. 2. 13.
119 Mat. 8. 34.
120 Heb. 12. 16.
121 Nazianz. περ_ _γ. βαπτ. Δειv_v
παvήγυριv
παρελθε_v κα_ τηvικα_τα
πραγματείαv
_πιζητε_v
122
123