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1 [A song of high degrees.] I will lift vp myne eyes vnto the hilles: from whence my helpe shall come.
2 My helpe commeth from God: who hath made heauen and earth.
3 He wyll not suffer thy foote to moue: he wyll not sleepe that kepeth thee.
4 Beholde, he that kepeth Israel: wyll neither slumber nor sleepe.
5 God hym selfe is thy keper: God is thy defence vpon thy ryght hande.
6 The sunne shal not hurt thee by day: neither the moone by nyght.
7 God wyll preserue thee from all euill: he wyll preserue thy soule.
8 God wyll preserue thy goyng out and thy commyng in: from this tyme foorth for euermore.
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.