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1 And Ionas prayed vnto the Lorde his God out of the fisshes belly.
2 And saide: In affliction I cryed vnto the Lorde, and he heard me: out of the belly of hell cryed I, and thou heardest my voyce.
3 Thou haddest cast me downe into the deepe, into the middest of the sea, and the floods compassed me about: all thy billowes and waues passed ouer me.
4 And I saide: I am cast away out of thy sight, yet wyll I loke againe toward thyne holy temple.
5 The waters compassed me euen vnto the soule, the deapth closed me on euery side, and the weedes were wrapt about my head.
6 I went downe to the bottome of the mountaines, the earth with her barres was about me for euer: yet hast thou brought vp my lyfe from corruption, O Lorde my God.
7 When my soule fainted within me, I remembred the Lorde, and my prayer came in vnto thee into thy holy temple.
8 They that holde vpon lying vanitie, forsake his mercie.
9 But I wyll sacrifice vnto thee with the voyce of thankesgeuing, and wyll pay that that I haue vowed: for saluation is of the Lorde.
10 And the Lorde spake vnto the fisshe, and it cast out Ionas vpon the drye lande.
The Bishop’s Bible (BB)
The Bishop’s Bible (BB) is a significant English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1568 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was commissioned by the Church of England as a revision of the Great Bible and as a response to the Geneva Bible, which was popular among the Puritans but contained marginal notes that were considered politically and theologically contentious by the Anglican establishment. The primary goal of the Bishop’ s Bible was to create a translation that would be more acceptable to the ecclesiastical authorities and suitable for use in Anglican churches.
One of the distinguishing features of the Bishop’s Bible is its effort to maintain a high level of accuracy and scholarly integrity while also ensuring that the language used was dignified and appropriate for public reading. The translation was undertaken by a team of bishops and other scholars, hence its name. The translators aimed to preserve the poetic and literary qualities of the original texts, drawing on previous translations such as the Tyndale Bible, the Coverdale Bible, and the Great Bible, while also incorporating their scholarly insights and linguistic refinements.
The Bishop’s Bible was notable for its large, folio format, which was designed to be read from the pulpit. It included extensive marginal notes, though these were more restrained and less controversial than those found in the Geneva Bible. The translation also featured elaborate illustrations and maps, as well as a comprehensive introduction and various prefaces that provided context and guidance for readers. Despite its grandeur and scholarly merit, the Bishop’s Bible did not achieve the widespread popularity of the Geneva Bible among the general populace.