« | Proverbs 21 | » |
1 The kynges heart is in the hand of the Lord, lyke as are the riuers of water, he maye turne it whyther soeuer he wyll.
2 Euery mans way seemeth right in his owne eyes: but the Lorde pondereth the heart.
3 To do righteousnes and iudgement, is more acceptable to the Lorde then sacrifice.
4 An high looke, a proude heart, and the plowing of the vngodly is sinne.
5 The deuises of one that is diligent, bring plenteousnesse: but he that is vnaduised, commeth vnto pouertie.
6 To hoorde vp riches with a deceiptfull tongue, is vanitie tossed to and fro of them that seeke death.
7 The robberies of the vngodly shalbe their owne destruction: for they wyll not do the thing that is right.
8 The way of the vngodly is frowarde and straunge: but of the pure man his worke is right.
9 It is better to dwel in a corner on the house toppe, then with a brawling woman in a wide house.
10 The soule of the vngodly wisheth euyll, and his neighbour findeth no fauour in his eyes.
11 When the scornefull is punished, the ignoraunt take the better heede: and when the wyse is instructed, he wyll receaue vnderstanding.
12 The righteous man wysely considereth the house of the wicked, and for their wickednesse [God] ouerthroweth the vngodly.
13 Who so stoppeth his eares at the crying of the poore, he shall crye hym selfe and not be hearde.
14 A priuie rewarde pacifieth displeasure: and a gyft in the bosome [stylleth] furiousnesse.
15 The iust delighteth in doing the thing that is right: but destruction shalbe to the workers of wickednesse.
16 The man that wandereth out of the way of wysdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that hath pleasure in bankettes shalbe a poore man: and whoso delighteth in wyne and delicates, shall not be riche.
18 The vngodly shalbe a raunsome for the righteous: and the wicked for the iust.
19 It is better to dwell in the wyldernesse, then with a chydyng and an angrye woman.
20 In a wise mans house there is a great treasure and oyle: but a foolishe body spendeth vp all.
21 Who so foloweth righteousnesse and mercy, findeth both life, righteousnesse, and honour.
22 A wyse man skaleth the citie of the mightie, & ouerthroweth the strength wherein they trusted.
23 Who so kepeth his mouth and his tongue, the same kepeth his soule from troubles.
24 He that is proude and arrogant; is called a scorner, whiche in his wrath worketh presumptuously.
25 The desire of the slouthfull kylleth him: for his handes wyll not labour.
26 He coueteth greedyly all day long: but the righteous geueth and spareth not.
27 The sacrifice of the vngodly is abhomination: howe muche more when they offer the thing that is gotten with wickednesse?
28 A false witnesse shall perishe: but [a good] man speaketh constantly what he hath hearde.
29 An vngodly man hardeneth his face: but the iust refourmeth his owne way.
30 There is no wysdome, there is no vnderstanding, there is no counsayle against the Lorde.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battayle: but the Lorde geueth victorie.
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.
Although the Bishop’s Bible played an essential role in the religious and cultural life of Elizabethan England, it was eventually overshadowed by the King James Version (KJV), which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611. The KJV drew heavily on the Bishop’ s Bible, as well as other earlier translations, but ultimately surpassed it in both scholarly rigor and literary quality. Nonetheless, the Bishop’s Bible remains an important milestone in the history of English Bible translations, reflecting the theological and political currents of its time and contributing to the development of subsequent translations.