« | Psalm 138 | » |
1 [Of Dauid.] I wyll geue thankes vnto thee O God with my whole heart: I wyll sing psalmes vnto thee before the gods.
2 I wyll make my lowe obeysaunce towarde thy holy temple: and I wyll prayse thy holy name in respect of thy louing kindnesse and trueth. (138:3) For thou hast magnified thy name: and thy worde aboue all thinges.
3 (138:4) In the day [of myne aduersitie] I called vpon thee, and thou heardest me: thou enduedst my soule more and more with strength.
4 (138:5) All the kinges of the earth will prayse thee O God: for they haue hearde the wordes of thy mouth.
5 (138:6) Yea they wyll sing of the wayes of God: for great is the glory of God.
6 (138:7) For though God be on high: yet he will haue respect vnto the lowly, and he wyll knowe the proude a farre of.
7 (138:8) If I shall walke in the midst of trouble, thou wylt make me to liue: thou wylt stretche foorth thyne hande vpon the furiousnes of mine enemies, and thy right hande shall saue me.
8 (138:9) God wyll finishe that he hath begun by me: O God thy louing kindnesse endureth for euer, thou wylt not forsake the workes of thyne owne handes.
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.