« | Zechariah 13 | » |
1 In that time shall the house of Dauid and the citezins of Hierusalem haue an open wel to washe of sinne and vncleannesse.
2 And then saith the Lorde of hoastes, I wyll destroy the names of the idols out of the lande: so that they shal no more be put in remembraunce: As for the false prophetes also, and the vncleane spirites, I wyl take them out of the lande.
3 So that if any of them prophecie any more, his owne father and mother that begat him, shal say vnto him, Thou shalt dye, for thou speakest lyes vnder the name of the Lord: yea his owne father and mother that begat him shall wounde him, when he prophecieth.
4 And then shal those prophetes be confounded euery one of his vision when he prophecieth: neither shal they weare heere cloth any more to deceaue men withall.
5 But he shalbe fayne to say, I am no prophete, I am an husbandman: for so am I taught by man from my youth vp.
6 And if it be saide vnto him, How came these woundes then in thyne handes? He shal aunswere: Thus was I wounded in the house of myne owne friendes.
7 Aryse O thou sworde vpon my shephearde, and vpon the man that is my felow, saith the lord of hoastes: smite the shepheard, & the sheepe shalbe scattred abroade: and so wyll I turne my hande to the litle ones.
8 And it shall come to passe saith the Lorde, that in all the lande two partes shalbe rooted out, but the third part shall remayne therein.
9 And the same third part wyl I bring through the fire, & wyl cleanse them as the siluer is cleansed, yea and trye them lyke as golde is tryed: then shal they call vpon my name and I wyll heare them, I wyll say it is my people, and they shall say, Lorde my God.
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.