« | Psalm 137 | » |
1 By the waters of Babylon we sat downe there: also we wept when we remembred Sion.
2 We hanged our harpes on the Salon trees: in the mydst of it.
3 For there they that led vs away captiue required of vs some matter of a song: and [for] our waylynges myrth, [saying] sing vs one of the songes of Sion.
4 [He aunswered] howe can we sing one of the songes of God: in another lande besides our owne?
5 If I forget thee O Hierusalem: let my right hande forget [her cunning.]
6 Let my tongue cleaue to the roofe of my mouth, if I do not remember thee: yea if I preferre not thee O Hierusalem aboue my most myrth.
7 Remember the chyldren of Edom in the day of Hierusalem: they sayde, downe with it, downe with it, euen to the grounde.
8 O daughter of Babylon who must lye wasted: happy shall he be that rewardeth thee as thou hast serued vs.
9 Blessed shall he be: that taketh & throweth thy litle children against the stone.
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.