KJB-PCE-MINION.pdf

THE

HOLY BIBLE

CONTAINING THE

OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS

TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:

AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS

DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED,

BY HIS MAJESTY’S SPECIAL COMMAND

Appointed to be read in Churches

Authorized King James Version

Pure Cambridge Edition

Bible Protector

Plain Text Minion

PUBLISHED IN AUSTRALIA

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

REAT 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 Majesty’s Royal Person to

rule and reign over us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion , 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 Majesty, 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 Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also

accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad.

But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the

preaching of God’s sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches

of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, 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 Highness 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 Majesty’s loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is

precious among them: their eye doth 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 doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe,

that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more

kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom , by writing in defence 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 Majesty; but none is

more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and

publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your

Highness 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 Majesty 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 hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it

our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, 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

iii

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY

ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and

patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of

our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than 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 God’s 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 selfconceited 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 innocency 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 Majesty’s grace and favour,

which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavours 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 Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces, so You may be the

wonder of the world in this latter 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

¶ The best things have been calumniated

EAL to promote the common good, whether it be by devising any thing ourselves, or revising that

which hath been laboured 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, and out of shot, as they say, that no man would lift up

the 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 men 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

Commonweals 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, 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 reporter 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, &c. 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; 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 captains, 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 at 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. 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 by all? We doubt of it. Otherwise why do they lay it in

his son’s dish, and call unto him for easing of the burden? Make, say they, the grievous servitude of thy

father, and his sore yoke, lighter. 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.

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