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1 [A psalme of Dauid.] I will sing of mercie and iudgement: I wyll syng vnto thee O God psalmes.
2 I wyll endeuour my selfe to be fully instructed in the way of perfectnesse: when thou wylt come vnto me, I wil go vp and downe in the middest of my house in the perfectnesse of my heart.
3 I wyll neuer set before myne eyes any deuillishe thyng: I wyll detest to do the worke of transgressours, it shall take no holde of me.
4 A frowarde heart shall depart from me: I wyll not once knowe [any] euyll.
5 I will destroy him who priuily slaundereth his neighbour: I wyll not suffer hym who hath a proude loke and a great stomacke.
6 Myne eyes shalbe vpon such in the lande as haue a true meanyng, that they may sit with me: he that leadeth a perfect lyfe shall minister vnto me.
7 There shall no deceiptfull person haue any seate in my house: he that telleth lyes shall not tary long in my syght.
8 I wyll euery mornyng destroy all the vngodly in the lande: that I may roote out from the citie of God all workers of wickednesse.
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.