« | Psalm 99 | » |
1 God raigneth, the people be in a rage: he sitteth [betweene] the Cherubims, the earth quaketh.
2 God is great in Sion: and high aboue all people.
3 They shall prayse thy name great & dreadfull: [for] it is holy, and a kynges power [that] loueth iudgement.
4 Thou hast ordeyned [all thynges] accordyng to equitie: thou hast caused iudgement and iustice to be in Iacob.
5 Magnifie God our Lorde: and kneele downe before his footstoole, for it is holy.
6 Moyses & Aaron among his priestes, and Samuel among such as call vpon his name: [these] called vpon God, and he hearde them.
7 He spake vnto them out of the cloudy pyller: for they kept his testimonies, and the lawe [that] he gaue them.
8 O God our Lord thou heardest them, O Lorde thou didst forbeare them: and thou tokest auengement for their owne inuentions.
9 Magnifie God our Lorde, and kneele downe before his holy hyll: for God our Lorde is holy.
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.