« | Psalm 64 | » |
1 [To the chiefe musition, a psalme of Dauid.] O Lorde heare my voyce in my prayer: preserue my life from feare of the enemie.
2 Hyde me from the secrete [counsayles] of the malitious: from the conspiracie of the workers of iniquitie.
3 Who haue whet their tongue lyke a sword: who haue drawne their arrow, euen a bitter worde.
4 That they may priuily shoote at hym which is perfect: they do sodenly shoote at hym and feare not.
5 They courage them selues in mischiefe: and comune among them selues how they may lay snares, and say, who shall see them?
6 They searche out howe to do wrong, they put in practise fully that they haue diligently searched out: yea euen the secretes and bottome of euery one of their heartes.
7 But the Lorde wyll sodenly shoote at them with a [swyft] arrowe: their plagues shalbe [apparaunt.]
8 Yea they shall cause their owne tongues to be a meanes for to destroy the selues: insomuch that who so seeth them, shal desire to flee away [from them]
9 And all men that see it shall say, this hath God done: for they shall well perceaue that it is his worke.
10 The righteous wyll reioyce in God, and put his trust in hym: and all they that be vpright hearted wylbe glad.
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.