« | Psalm 20 | » |
1 [To the chiefe musition, a psalme of Dauid.] God heare thee in the day of trouble: the name of the Lorde of Iacob defende thee.
2 Let him sende thee helpe from the sanctuarie: and ayde thee out of Sion.
3 Let him remember all thy offeringes: and turne into asshes thy burnt sacrifices. Selah.
4 Let him graunt thee thy heartes desire: and accomplishe all thy deuice.
5 We wyll reioyce in thy saluation, and triumph in the name of our Lorde: for God wyll perfourme all thy petitions.
6 Nowe I knowe that God wyll saue his annoynted, he wyll heare him from his heauenly sanctuarie: there is saluation in the mightinesse of his right hande.
7 Some [put their trust] in chariotes, and some in horses: but we wyll remember the name of God our Lorde.
8 They shalbe made to bowe and fall: but we shall arise, and stande vpright.
9 Saue thou O God: that the king may heare vs in the day when we call.
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.