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1 [To the chiefe musition vpon Gittith, a psalme of Dauid.] O God our Lorde, howe excellent is thy name in all the earth? for that thou hast set thy glory aboue the heauens.
2 Out of the mouth of very babes and sucklinges thou hast layde the foundation of thy strength for thyne aduersaries sake: that thou mightest styll the enemie and the auenger.
3 For I will consider thy heauens, euen the workes of thy fingers: the moone and the starres whiche thou hast ordayned.
4 What is man that thou art myndfull of him? and the sonne of man that thou visitest hym?
5 Thou hast made hym somthyng inferiour to angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and worship.
6 Thou makest hym to haue dominion of the workes of thy handes: and thou hast put all thinges [in subiection] vnder his feete,
7 All sheepe and oxen, & also the beastes of the fielde:
8 (8:7) the foules of the ayre, and the fishe of the sea, and whatsoeuer swymmeth in the seas.
9 (8:8) O God our Lorde: howe excellent great is thy name in all the earth?
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.