« | Proverbs 26 | » |
1 Lyke as snowe is [not meete] in sommer and rayne in haruest: euen so is worship vnseemely for a foole.
2 As the byrde and the swalowe take their flight and flee here and there: so the curse that is geuen in vayne, shall not light vpon a man.
3 Unto the horse belongeth a whip, to the asse a brydle: and a rod to the fooles backe.
4 Geue not the foole an aunswere after his foolishnes, lest thou become like vnto him.
5 But make the foole an aunswere to his foolishnesse, lest he be wyse in his owne conceipt.
6 [As he that] cutteth of [his messengers] feete endamageth himselfe: so doth he that committeth a message to a foole.
7 Like as in a lame man his legges are not equall: euen so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
8 He that setteth a foole in hye dignitie, that is euen as if a man would bynde a stone in a sling.
9 As is a thorne in the hande of a drunkarde: so is a parable in a fooles mouth.
10 The mightie that fourmed al thinges, rewardeth the fooles & transgressours.
11 Like as the dogge turneth agayne to his owne vomite: euen so a foole beginneth his foolishnes agayne afreshe.
12 If thou seest a man that is wise in his owne conceipt: there is more hope in a foole, then in hym.
13 The slouthfull saith, there is a lion in the way, and a lion in the middest of the streates.
14 Like as the doore turneth about vpon the hynges: euen so doth the slouthfull walter him selfe in his bed.
15 The slouthfull body thrusteth his hande into his bosome, and it greeueth hym to put it agayne to his mouth.
16 The sluggarde thinketh him selfe wiser then seuen men that sit and teache.
17 Who so goeth by and medleth with other mens strife: he is like one that taketh a dogge by the eares.
18 As he that fayneth him selfe mad, casteth firebrandes, deadly arrowes and dartes:
19 So doth a dissembler with his neighbour, and saith, am not I in sport?
20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: euen so where the talebearer is taken away, there the strife ceasseth.
21 As coles kindle heate, and wood the fire: euen so doth a brawling felowe stirre vp variaunce.
22 A talebearers wordes are lyke men that strike with hammers, and they pearse the inwarde partes of the body.
23 Burning lippes and a wicked heart, are like a potsharde couered with siluer drosse.
24 An enemie wyll dissemble with his lippes, and layeth vp deceipt in his heart.
25 But when he speaketh fayre, beleue hym not: for there are seuen abhominations in his heart.
26 Hatred maye be couered by deceipt: but the malice therof shalbe shewed before the whole congregation.
27 Who so diggeth vp a pit, shal fall therin: and he that rolleth vp a stone, it wyl returne vpon hym.
28 A lying tongue hateth the afflicted: and a flattering mouth worketh mischiefe.
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.