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1 [A psalme of Dauid when he fled from the face of Absalom his sonne.] O God howe are myne enemies increased? many do ryse vp against me.
2 Many say of my soule: there is no saluation for it in God. Selah.
3 But thou O God art a buckler for me: thou art my worship, and the lifter vp of my head.
4 I dyd call vpon God with my voyce, and he hearde me out of his holy hyll. Selah.
5 I layde me downe and slept: and I rose vp agayne, for God sustayned me.
6 I wyll not be afrayde of ten thousandes of the people: that haue set [them selues] against me rounde about.
7 Arise vp O God, saue thou me O my Lorde: for thou hast smitten all myne enemies vpon the cheeke bone, thou hast broken the teeth of the vngodly.
8 Saluation is of God: thy blessing is vpon thy people. Selah.
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.