Old and new testaents translated out of the orginal tongues

THE

HOLY BIBLE
CONTAINING THE

OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS
TRANSLATED OUT OF THE ORIGINAL TONGUES:
AND WITH THE FORMER TRANSLATIONS
DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED,
BY HIS MAJESTY’S SPECIAL COMMAND
Appointed to be read in Churches

Authorized King James Version
Pure Cambridge Edition

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Plain Text Minion


PUBLISHED IN AUSTRALIA


TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE

JAMES

BY THE GRACE OF GOD
KING OF GREAT BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND
DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c.
The Translators of the Bible wish Grace, Mercy, and Peace,

through JESUS CHRIST our Lord

G

REAT and manifold were the blessings, most dread Sovereign, which Almighty God, the Father of all
mercies, bestowed upon us the people of England, when first he sent Your Majesty’s Royal Person to
rule and reign over us. For whereas it was the expectation of many, who wished not well unto our Sion, that
upon the setting of that bright Occidental Star, Queen Elizabeth of most happy memory, some thick and
palpable clouds of darkness would so have overshadowed this Land, that men should have been in doubt
which way they were to walk; and that it should hardly be known, who was to direct the unsettled State; the
appearance of Your Majesty, as of the Sun in his strength, instantly dispelled those supposed and surmised
mists, and gave unto all that were well affected exceeding cause of comfort; especially when we beheld the
Government established in Your Highness, and Your hopeful Seed, by an undoubted Title, and this also
accompanied with peace and tranquillity at home and abroad.
But among all our joys, there was no one that more filled our hearts, than the blessed continuance of the
preaching of God’s sacred Word among us; which is that inestimable treasure, which excelleth all the riches
of the earth; because the fruit thereof extendeth itself, not only to the time spent in this transitory world, but
directeth and disposeth men unto that eternal happiness which is above in heaven.
Then not to suffer this to fall to the ground, but rather to take it up, and to continue it in that state, wherein
the famous Predecessor of Your Highness did leave it: nay, to go forward with the confidence and resolution
of a Man in maintaining the truth of Christ, and propagating it far and near, is that which hath so bound
and firmly knit the hearts of all Your Majesty’s loyal and religious people unto You, that Your very name is
precious among them: their eye doth behold You with comfort, and they bless You in their hearts, as that
sanctified Person, who, under God, is the immediate Author of their true happiness. And this their
contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe,
that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more
kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth,
(which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,) and every day at home, by
religious and learned discourse, by frequenting the house of God, by hearing the Word preached, by
cherishing the Teachers thereof, by caring for the Church, as a most tender and loving nursing Father.

There are infinite arguments of this right Christian and religious affection in Your Majesty; but none is
more forcible to declare it to others than the vehement and perpetuated desire of accomplishing and
publishing of this work, which now with all humility we present unto Your Majesty. For when Your
Highness had once out of deep judgment apprehended how convenient it was, that out of the Original
Sacred Tongues, together with comparing of the labours, both in our own, and other foreign Languages, of
many worthy men who went before us, there should be one more exact Translation of the holy Scriptures
into the English Tongue; Your Majesty did never desist to urge and to excite those to whom it was
commended, that the work might be hastened, and that the business might be expedited in so decent a
manner, as a matter of such importance might justly require.
And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a
conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it
our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover
and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have
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ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and
patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of
our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of
other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or
abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God’s holy Truth to be yet
more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on
the other side, we shall be maligned by selfconceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto
nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported
within by the truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity,
as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty’s grace and favour,
which will ever give countenance to honest and Christian endeavours against bitter censures and
uncharitable imputations.
The Lord of heaven and earth bless Your Majesty with many and happy days, that, as his heavenly hand

hath enriched Your Highness with many singular and extraordinary graces, so You may be the
wonder of the world in this latter age for happiness and true felicity, to the honour of that great
GOD, and the good of his Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.

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THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
¶ The best things have been calumniated
EAL to promote the common good, whether it be by devising any thing ourselves, or revising that
which hath been laboured by others, deserveth certainly much respect and esteem, but yet findeth but
cold entertainment in the world. It is welcomed with suspicion instead of love, and with emulation instead
of thanks: and if there be any hole left for cavil to enter, (and cavil, if it do not find an hole, will make one) it
is sure to be misconstrued, and in danger to be condemned. This will easily be granted by as many as know
story, or have any experience. For was there ever any thing projected, that savoured any way of newness or
renewing, but the same endured many a storm of gainsaying or opposition? A man would think that civility,
wholesome laws, learning and eloquence, synods, and Church-maintenance, (that we speak of no more
things of this kind) should be as safe as a sanctuary, and out of shot, as they say, that no man would lift up
the heel, no, nor dog move his tongue against the motioners of them. For by the first we are distinguished
from brute beasts led with sensuality: by the second we are bridled and restrained from outrageous
behaviour, and from doing of injuries, whether by fraud or by violence: by the third we are enabled to
inform and reform others by the light and feeling that we have attained unto ourselves: briefly, by the
fourth, being brought together to a parley face to face, we sooner compose our differences, than by writings,
which are endless: and lastly, that the Church be sufficiently provided for is so agreeable to good reason and
conscience, that those mothers are holden to be less cruel, that kill their children as soon as they are born,
than those nursing fathers and mothers (wheresoever they be) that withdraw from them who hang upon
their breasts (and upon whose breasts again themselves do hang to receive the spiritual and sincere milk of
the word) livelihood and support fit for their estates. Thus it is apparent, that these things which we speak
of are of most necessary use, and therefore that none, either without absurdity can speak against them, or
without note of wickedness can spurn against them.

Z

Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for none
other fault, but for seeking to reduce their countrymen to good order and discipline: And that in some
Commonweals it was made a capital crime, once to motion the making of a new law for the abrogating of
an old, though the same were most pernicious: And that certain, which would be counted pillars of the
State, and patterns of virtue and prudence, could not be brought for a long time to give way to good letters
and refined speech; but bare themselves as averse from them, as from rocks or boxes of poison: And
fourthly, that he was no babe, but a great Clerk, that gave forth, (and in writing to remain to posterity) in
passion peradventure, but yet he gave forth, That he had not seen any profit to come by any synod or
meeting of the Clergy, but rather the contrary: And lastly, against Church-maintenance and allowance, in
such sort as the ambassadors and messengers of the great King of kings should be furnished, it is not
unknown what a fiction or fable (so it is esteemed, and for no better by the reporter himself, though
superstitious) was devised: namely, That at such time as the professors and teachers of Christianity in the
Church of Rome, then a true Church, were liberally endowed, a voice forsooth was heard from heaven,
saying, Now is poison poured down into the Church, &c. Thus not only as oft as we speak, as one saith, but
also as oft as we do any thing of note or consequence, we subject ourselves to every one’s censure, and
happy is he that is least tossed upon tongues; for utterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible. If any
man conceit that this is the lot and portion of the meaner sort only, and that princes are privileged by their
high estate, he is deceived. As, The sword devoureth as well one as another, as it is in Samuel; nay, as the
great commander charged his soldiers in a certain battle to strike at no part of the enemy, but at the face;
and as the king of Syria commanded his chief captains, To fight neither with small nor great, save only
against the king of Israel: so it is too true, that envy striketh most spitefully at the fairest, and at the chiefest.
David was a worthy prince, and no man to be compared to him for his first deeds; and yet for as worthy an
act as ever he did, even for bringing back the ark of God in solemnity, he was scorned and scoffed at by his
own wife. Solomon was greater than David, though not in virtue, yet in power; and by his power and
wisdom he built a temple to the Lord, such an one as was the glory of the land of Israel, and the wonder of
the whole world. But was that his magnificence liked by all? We doubt of it. Otherwise why do they lay it in
his son’s dish, and call unto him for easing of the burden? Make, say they, the grievous servitude of thy

father, and his sore yoke, lighter. Belike he had charged them with some levies, and troubled them with
some carriages; hereupon they raise up a tragedy, and wish in their heart the temple had never been built. So
hard a thing it is to please all, even when we please God best, and do seek to approve ourselves to every one’s
conscience.
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THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
¶ The highest personages have been calumniated
If we will descend to later times, we shall find many the like examples of such kind, or rather unkind,
acceptance. The first Roman Emperor did never do a more pleasing deed to the learned, nor more profitable
to posterity, for conserving the record of times in true supputation, than when he corrected the Calendar,
and ordered the year according to the course of the sun: and yet this was imputed to him for novelty and
arrogancy, and procured to him great obloquy. So the first Christened Emperor, (at the leastwise, that
openly professed the faith himself, and allowed others to do the like) for strengthening the empire at his
great charges, and providing for the Church, as he did, got for his labour the name Pupillus, as who would
say, a wasteful Prince, that had need of a guardian or overseer. So the best Christened Emperor, for the love
that he bare unto peace, thereby to enrich both himself and his subjects, and because he did not seek war,
but find it, was judged to be no man at arms, (though in deed he excelled in feats of chivalry, and shewed so
much when he was provoked) and condemned for giving himself to his ease, and to his pleasure. To be
short, the most learned Emperor of former times, (at the least, the greatest politician) what thanks had he
for cutting off the superfluities of the laws, and digesting them into some order and method? This, that he
hath been blotted by some to be an Epitomist, that is, one that extinguished worthy whole volumes, to bring
his abridgments into request. This is the measure that hath been rendered to excellent Princes in former
times, even, Cum bene facerent, male audire, For their good deeds to be evil spoken of. Neither is there any
likelihood that envy and malignity died and were buried with the ancient. No, no, the reproof of Moses
taketh hold of most ages, Ye are risen up in your fathers’ stead, an increase of sinful men. What is that that
hath been done? that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun, saith the wise man. And
St Stephen, As your fathers did, so do ye.
¶ His Majesty’s constancy, notwithstanding calumniation, for the survey of the English translations

This, and more to this purpose, his Majesty that now reigneth (and long and long may he reign, and his
offspring for ever, Himself and children and children’s children always!) knew full well, according to the
singular wisdom given unto him by God, and the rare learning and experience that he hath attained unto;
namely, That whosoever attempteth any thing for the publick, (especially if it appertain to religion, and to
the opening and clearing of the word of God) the same setteth himself upon a stage to be glouted upon by
every evil eye; yea, he casteth himself headlong upon pikes, to be gored by every sharp tongue. For he that
meddleth with men’s religion in any part meddleth with their custom, nay, with their freehold; and though
they find no content in that which they have, yet they cannot abide to hear of altering. Notwithstanding his
royal heart was not daunted or discouraged for this or that colour, but stood resolute, As a statue
immoveable, and an anvil not easy to be beaten into plates, as one saith; he knew who had chosen him to be
a soldier, or rather a captain; and being assured that the course which he intended made much for the glory
of God, and the building up of his Church, he would not suffer it to be broken off for whatsoever speeches
or practices. It doth certainly belong unto kings, yea, it doth specially belong unto them, to have care of
religion, yea, to know it aright, yea, to profess it zealously, yea, to promote it to the uttermost of their
power. This is their glory before all nations which mean well, and this will bring unto them a far most
excellent weight of glory in the day of the Lord Jesus. For the Scripture saith not in vain, Them that honour
me I will honour: neither was it a vain word that Eusebius delivered long ago, That piety towards God was
the weapon, and the only weapon, that both preserved Constantine’s person, and avenged him of his
enemies.
¶ The praise of the Holy Scriptures
But now what piety without truth? What truth, what saving truth, without the word of God? What word of
God, whereof we may be sure, without the Scripture? The Scriptures we are commanded to search. John v.
39. Isaiah viii. 20. They are commended that searched and studied them. Acts xvii. 11 and viii. 28, 29. They
are reproved that were unskilful in them, or slow to believe them. Matth. xxii. 29. Luke xxiv. 25. They can
make us wise unto salvation. 2 Tim. iii. 15. If we be ignorant, they will instruct us; if out of the way, they will
bring us home; if out of order, they will reform us; if in heaviness, comfort us; if dull, quicken us; if cold,
inflame us. Tolle, lege; tolle, lege; Take up and read, take up and read the Scriptures, (for unto them was the
direction) it was said unto St Augustine by a supernatural voice. Whatsoever is in the Scriptures, believe me,
saith the same St Augustine, is high and divine; there is verily truth, and a doctrine most fit for the
refreshing and renewing of men’s minds, and truly so tempered, that every one may draw from thence that

which is sufficient for him, if he come to draw with a devout and pious mind, as true religion requireth.
Thus St Augustine. And St Hierome, Ama Scripturas, et amabit te sapientia, &c. Love the Scriptures, and
wisdom will love thee. And St Cyrill against Julian, Even boys that are bred up in the Scriptures, become
most religious, &c. But what mention we three or four uses of the Scripture, whereas whatsoever is to be
believed, or practised, or hoped for, is contained in them? or three or four sentences of the Fathers, since
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whosoever is worthy the name of a Father, from Christ’s time downward, hath likewise written not only of
the riches, but also of the perfection of the Scripture? I adore the fulness of the Scripture, saith Tertullian
against Hermogenes. And again, to Apelles an heretick of the like stamp he saith, I do not admit that which
thou bringest in (or concludest) of thine own (head or store, de tuo) without Scripture. So St Justin Martyr
before him; We must know by all means (saith he) that it is not lawful (or possible) to learn (any thing) of
God or of right piety, save only out of the Prophets, who teach us by divine inspiration. So St Basil after
Tertullian, It is a manifest falling away from the faith, and a fault of presumption, either to reject any of
those things that are written, or to bring in (upon the head of them, ἐπεισάγειν) any of those things that are not
written. We omit to cite to the same effect St Cyrill, Bishop of Jerusalem in his 4. Cateches. St Hierome
against Helvidius, St Augustine in his third book against the letters of Petilian, and in very many other
places of his works. Also we forbear to descend to latter Fathers, because we will not weary the reader. The
Scriptures then being acknowledged to be so full and so perfect, how can we excuse ourselves of negligence,
if we do not study them? of curiosity, if we be not content with them? Men talk much of εἰρεσιώνη, how many
sweet and goodly things it had hanging on it; of the Philosopher’s stone, that it turneth copper into gold; of
Cornucopia, that it had all things necessary for food in it; of Panaces the herb, that it was good for all
diseases; of Catholicon the drug, that it is instead of all purges; of Vulcan’s armour, that it was an armour of
proof against all thrusts and all blows, &c. Well, that which they falsely or vainly attributed to these for
bodily good, we may justly and with full measure ascribe unto the Scripture for spiritual. It is not only an
armour, but also a whole armoury of weapons, both offensive and defensive; whereby we may save
ourselves, and put the enemy to flight. It is not an herb, but a tree, or rather a whole paradise of trees of life,
which bring forth fruit every month, and the fruit thereof is for meat, and the leaves for medicine. It is not a

pot of Manna or a cruse of oil, which were for memory only, or for a meal’s meat or two; but as it were a
shower of heavenly bread sufficient for a whole host, be it never so great, and as it were a whole cellar full of
oil vessels; whereby all our necessities may be provided for, and our debts discharged. In a word, it is a
panary of wholesome food against fenowed traditions; a physician’s shop (St Basil calleth it) of preservatives
against poisoned heresies; a pandect of profitable laws against rebellious spirits; a treasury of most costly
jewels against beggarly rudiments; finally, a fountain of most pure water springing up unto everlasting life.
And what marvel? the original thereof being from heaven, not from earth; the author being God, not man;
the inditer, the Holy Spirit, not the wit of the Apostles or Prophets; the penmen, such as were sanctified
from the womb, and endued with a principal portion of God’s Spirit; the matter, verity, piety, purity,
uprightness; the form, God’s word, God’s testimony, God’s oracles, the word of truth, the word of
Salvation, &c.; the effects, light of understanding, stableness of persuasion, repentance from dead works,
newness of life, holiness, peace, joy in the Holy Ghost; lastly, the end and reward of the study thereof,
fellowship with the saints, participation of the heavenly nature, fruition of an inheritance immortal,
undefiled, and that never shall fade away: Happy is the man that delighteth in the Scripture, and thrice
happy that meditateth in it day and night.
¶ Translation necessary
But how shall men meditate in that which they cannot understand? How shall they understand that which is
kept close in an unknown tongue? as it is written, Except I know the power of the voice, I shall be to him
that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian to me. The Apostle excepteth no tongue;
not Hebrew the ancientest, not Greek the most copious, not Latin the finest. Nature taught a natural man to
confess, that all of us in those tongues which we do not understand are plainly deaf; we may turn the deaf
ear unto them. The Scythian counted the Athenian, whom he did not understand, barbarous: so the Roman
did the Syrian and the Jew: (even St Hierome himself calleth the Hebrew tongue barbarous; belike, because
it was strange to so many:) so the Emperor of Constantinople calleth the Latin tongue barbarous, though
Pope Nicolas do storm at it: so the Jews long before Christ called all other nations Lognasim, which is little
better than barbarous. Therefore as one complaineth that always in the Senate of Rome there was one or
other that called for an interpreter; so, lest the Church be driven to the like exigent, it is necessary to have
translations in a readiness. Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the
shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most holy place;
that removeth the cover of the well, that we may come by the water; even as Jacob rolled away the stone

from the mouth of the well, by which means the flocks of Laban were watered. Indeed without translation
into the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are but like children at Jacob’s well (which was deep) without a bucket
or something to draw with: or as that person mentioned by Esay, to whom when a sealed book was
delivered with this motion, Read this, I pray thee, he was fain to make this answer, I cannot, for it is sealed.

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¶ The translation of the Old Testament out of the Hebrew into Greek
While God would be known only in Jacob, and have his name great in Israel, and in none other place; while
the dew lay on Gideon’s fleece only, and all the earth besides was dry; then for one and the same people,
which spake all of them the language of Canaan, that is, Hebrew, one and the same original in Hebrew was
sufficient. But when the fulness of time drew near, that the Sun of righteousness, the Son of God, should
come into the world, whom God ordained to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood, not of the Jew
only, but also of the Greek, yea, of all them that were scattered abroad; then, lo, it pleased the Lord to stir up
the spirit of a Greek prince, (Greek for descent and language) even of Ptolemy Philadelph king of Egypt, to
procure the translating of the book of God out of Hebrew into Greek. This is the translation of the Seventy
interpreters, commonly so called, which prepared the way for our Saviour among the Gentiles by written
preaching, as St John Baptist did among the Jews by vocal. For the Grecians, being desirous of learning,
were not wont to suffer books of worth to lie moulding in kings’ libraries, but had many of their servants,
ready scribes, to copy them out, and so they were dispersed and made common. Again the Greek tongue
was well known and made familiar to most inhabitants in Asia by reason of the conquests that there the
Grecians had made, as also by the colonies which thither they had sent. For the same causes also it was well
understood in many places of Europe, yea, and of Africk too. Therefore the word of God being set forth in
Greek, becometh hereby like a candle set upon a candlestick, which giveth light to all that are in the house;
or like a proclamation sounded forth in the market-place, which most men presently take knowledge of;
and therefore that language was fittest to contain the Scriptures, both for the first preachers of the Gospel to
appeal unto for witness, and for the learners also of those times to make search and trial by. It is certain, that
that translation was not so sound and so perfect, but that it needed in many places correction; and who had

been so sufficient for this work as the Apostles or apostolick men? Yet it seemed good to the Holy Ghost and
to them to take that which they found, (the same being for the greatest part true and sufficient) rather than
by making a new, in that new world and green age of the Church, to expose themselves to many exceptions
and cavillations, as though they made a translation to serve their own turn, and therefore bearing witness to
themselves, their witness not to be regarded. This may be supposed to be some cause, why the translation of
the Seventy was allowed to pass for current. Notwithstanding, though it was commended generally, yet it
did not fully content the learned, no not of the Jews. For not long after Christ, Aquila fell in hand with a
new translation, and after him Theodotion, and after him Symmachus: yea, there was a fifth and a sixth
edition, the authors whereof were not known. These with the Seventy made up the Hexapla, and were
worthily and to great purpose compiled together by Origen. Howbeit the edition of the Seventy went away
with the credit, and therefore not only was placed in the midst by Origen, (for the worth and excellency
thereof above the rest, as Epiphanius gathereth) but also was used by the Greek Fathers for the ground and
foundation of their commentaries. Yea, Epiphanius abovenamed doth attribute so much unto it, that he
holdeth the authors thereof not only for interpreters, but also for prophets in some respect: and Justinian
the Emperor, injoining the Jews his subjects to use especially the translation of the Seventy, rendereth this
reason thereof, Because they were, as it were, enlightened with prophetical grace. Yet for all that, as the
Egyptians are said of the Prophet to be men and not God, and their horses flesh and not spirit: so it is
evident, (and St Hierome affirmeth as much) that the Seventy were interpreters, they were not prophets.
They did many things well, as learned men; but yet as men they stumbled and fell, one while through
oversight, another while through ignorance; yea, sometimes they may be noted to add to the original, and
sometimes to take from it: which made the Apostles to leave them many times, when they left the Hebrew,
and to deliver the sense thereof according to the truth of the word, as the Spirit gave them utterance. This
may suffice touching the Greek translations of the Old Testament.
¶ Translation out of Hebrew and Greek into Latin
There were also within a few hundred years after Christ translations many into the Latin tongue: for this
tongue also was very fit to convey the law and the Gospel by, because in those times very many countries of
the West, yea of the South, East, and North, spake or understood Latin, being made provinces to the
Romans. But now the Latin translations were too many to be all good, for they were infinite; (Latini
interpretes nullo modo numerari possunt, saith St Augustine.) Again, they were not out of the Hebrew
fountain, (we speak of the Latin translations of the Old Testament) but out of the Greek stream; therefore

the Greek being not altogether clear, the Latin derived from it must needs be muddy. This moved St
Hierome, a most learned Father, and the best linguist without controversy of his age, or of any other that
went before him, to undertake the translating of the Old Testament out of the very fountains themselves;
which he performed with that evidence of great learning, judgment, industry, and faithfulness, that he hath
for ever bound the Church unto him in a debt of special remembrance and thankfulness.

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¶ The translating of the Scripture into the vulgar tongues
Now though the Church were thus furnished with Greek and Latin translations, even before the faith of
Christ was generally embraced in the Empire: (for the learned know that even in St Hierome’s time the
Consul of Rome and his wife were both Ethnicks, and about the same time the greatest part of the Senate
also) yet for all that the godly learned were not content to have the Scriptures in the language which
themselves understood, Greek and Latin, (as the good lepers were not content to fare well themselves, but
acquainted their neighbours with the store that God had sent, that they also might provide for themselves)
but also for the behoof and edifying of the unlearned which hungered and thirsted after righteousness, and
had souls to be saved as well as they, they provided translations into the vulgar for their countrymen,
insomuch that most nations under heaven did shortly after their conversion hear Christ speaking unto them
in their mother tongue, not by the voice of their minister only, but also by the written word translated. If
any doubt hereof, he may be satisfied by examples enough, if enough will serve the turn. First, St Hierome
saith, Multarum gentium linguis Scriptura ante translata docet falsa esse quæ addita sunt, &c. i.e. The
Scripture being translated before in the language of many nations doth shew that those things that were
added (by Lucian or Hesychius) are false. So St Hierome in that place. The same Hierome elsewhere
affirmeth that he, the time was, had set forth the translation of the Seventy, Suæ linguæ hominibus; i.e. for
his countrymen of Dalmatia. Which words not only Erasmus doth understand to purport, that St Hierome
translated the Scripture into the Dalmatian tongue; but also Sixtus Senensis, and Alphonsus a Castro, (that
we speak of no more) men not to be excepted against by them of Rome, do ingenuously confess as much. So
St Chrysostome, that lived in St Hierome’s time, giveth evidence with him: The doctrine of St John (saith

he) did not in such sort (as the Philosophers’ did) vanish away: but the Syrians, Egyptians, Indians, Persians,
Ethiopians, and infinite other nations, being barbarous people, translated it into their (mother) tongue and
have learned to be (true) Philosophers (he meaneth Christians). To this may be added Theodoret, as next
unto him both for antiquity, and for learning. His words be these, Every country that is under the sun is full
of these words, (of the Apostles and Prophets) and the Hebrew tongue (he meaneth the Scriptures in the
Hebrew tongue) is turned not only into the language of the Grecians, but also of the Romans, and
Egyptians, and Persians, and Indians, and Armenians, and Scythians, and Sauromatians, and, briefly, into
all the languages that any nation useth. So he. In like manner Ulpilas is reported by Paulus Diaconus and
Isidore, and before them by Sozomen, to have translated the Scriptures into the Gothick tongue: John
Bishop of Sevil by Vasseus, to have turned them into Arabick about the Year of our Lord 717: Beda by
Cistertiensis, to have turned a great part of them into Saxon: Efnard by Trithemius, to have abridged the
French Psalter (as Beda had done the Hebrew) about the year 800; King Alured by the said Cistertiensis, to
have turned the Psalter into Saxon: Methodius by Aventinus (printed at Ingolstad) to have turned the
Scriptures into Sclavonian: Valdo Bishop of Frising by Beatus Rhenanus, to have caused about that time the
Gospels to be translated into Dutch rhyme, yet extant in the library of Corbinian: Valdus by divers, to have
turned them himself, or to have gotten them turned, into French about the year 1160: Charles the fifth of
that name, surnamed The wise, to have caused them to be turned into French, about 200 years after Valdus
his time; of which translation there be many copies yet extant, as witnesseth Beroaldus. Much about that
time, even in our King Richard the second’s days, John Trevisa translated them into English, and many
English Bibles in written hand are yet to be seen with divers; translated, as it is very probable, in that age. So
the Syrian translation of the New Testament is in most learned men’s libraries, of Widminstadius his setting
forth; and the Psalter in Arabick is with many, of Augustinus Nebiensis’ setting forth. So Postel affirmeth,
that in his travel he saw the Gospels in the Ethiopian tongue: And Ambrose Thesius allegeth the Psalter of
the Indians, which he testifieth to have been set forth by Potken in Syrian characters. So that to have the
Scriptures in the mother tongue is not a quaint conceit lately taken up, either by the Lord Cromwell in
England, or by the Lord Radevile in Polony, or by the Lord Ungnadius in the Emperor’s dominion, but hath
been thought upon, and put in practice of old, even from the first times of the conversion of any nation; no
doubt, because it was esteemed most profitable to cause faith to grow in men’s hearts the sooner, and to
make them to be able to say with the words of the Psalm, As we have heard, so we have seen.
¶ The unwillingness of our chief adversaries that the Scriptures should be divulged in the mother tongue, &c.

Now the Church of Rome would seem at the length to bear a motherly affection towards her children, and
to allow them the Scriptures in their mother tongue: but indeed it is a gift, not deserving to be called a gift,
an unprofitable gift: they must first get a licence in writing before they may use them; and to get that, they
must approve themselves to their Confessor, that is, to be such as are, if not frozen in the dregs, yet soured
with the leaven of their superstition. Howbeit it seemed too much to Clement the eighth that there should
be any licence granted to have them in the vulgar tongue, and therefore he overruleth and frustrateth the
grant of Pius the fourth. So much are they afraid of the light of the Scripture, (Lucifugæ Scripturarum, as
Tertullian speaketh) that they will not trust the people with it, no not as it is set forth by their own sworn
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men, no not with the licence of their own Bishops and Inquisitors. Yea, so unwilling they are to
communicate the Scriptures to the people’s understanding in any sort, that they are not ashamed to confess
that we forced them to translate it into English against their wills. This seemeth to argue a bad cause, or a
bad conscience, or both. Sure we are, that it is not he that hath good gold, that is afraid to bring it to the
touchstone, but he that hath the counterfeit; neither is it the true man that shunneth the light, but the
malefactor, lest his deeds should be reproved; neither is it the plaindealing merchant that is unwilling to
have the weights, or the meteyard, brought in place, but he that useth deceit. But we will let them alone for
this fault, and return to translation.
¶ The speeches and reasons, both of our brethren, and of our adversaries, against this work
Many men’s mouths have been opened a good while (and yet are not stopped) with speeches about the
translation so long in hand, or rather perusals of translations made before: and ask what may be the reason,
what the necessity, of the employment. Hath the Church been deceived, say they, all this while? Hath her
sweet bread been mingled with leaven, her silver with dross, her wine with water, her milk with lime? (Lacte
gypsum male miscetur, saith St Irenee.) We hoped that we had been in the right way, that we had had the
oracles of God delivered unto us, and that though all the world had cause to be offended, and to complain,
yet that we had none. Hath the nurse holden out the breast, and nothing but wind in it? Hath the bread
been delivered by the Fathers of the Church, and the same proved to be lapidosus, as Seneca speaketh? What
is it to handle the word of God deceitfully, if this be not? Thus certain brethren. Also the adversaries of

Judah and Hierusalem, like Sanballat in Nehemiah, mock, as we hear, both at the work and workmen,
saying, What do these weak Jews, &c. will they make the stones whole again out of the heaps of dust which
are burnt? Although they build, yet if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stony wall. Was their
translation good before? Why do they now mend it? Was it not good? Why then was it obtruded to the
people? Yea, why did the Catholicks (meaning Popish Romanists) always go in jeopardy for refusing to go
to hear it? Nay, if it must be translated into English, Catholicks are fittest to do it. They have learning, and
they know when a thing is well, they can manum de tabula. We will answer them both briefly: and the
former, being brethren, thus with St Hierome, Damnamus veteres? Minime, sed post priorum studia in
domo Domini quod possumus laboramus. That is, Do we condemn the ancient? In no case: but after the
endeavours of them that were before us, we take the best pains we can in the house of God. As if he said,
Being provoked by the example of the learned that lived before my time, I have thought it my duty to assay
whether my talent in the knowledge of the tongues may be profitable in any measure to God’s Church, lest I
should seem to have laboured in them in vain, and lest I should be thought to glory in men (although
ancient) above that which was in them. Thus St Hierome may be thought to speak.
¶ A satisfaction to our brethren
And to the same effect say we, that we are so far off from condemning any of their labours that travelled
before us in this kind, either in this land, or beyond sea, either in King Henry’s time, or King Edward’s, (if
there were any translation, or correction of a translation, in his time) or Queen Elizabeth’s of ever renowned
memory, that we acknowledge them to have been raised up of God for the building and furnishing of his
Church, and that they deserve to be had of us and of posterity in everlasting remembrance. The judgment of
Aristotle is worthy and well known: If Timotheus had not been, we had not had much sweet musick: But if
Phrynis (Timotheus his master) had not been, we had not had Timotheus. Therefore blessed be they, and
most honoured be their name, that break the ice, and give the onset upon that which helpeth forward to the
saving of souls. Now what can be more available thereto, than to deliver God’s book unto God’s people in a
tongue which they understand? Since of an hidden treasure, and of a fountain that is sealed, there is no
profit, as Ptolemy Philadelph wrote to the Rabbins or masters of the Jews, as witnesseth Epiphanius: and as
St Augustine saith, A man had rather be with his dog than with a stranger (whose tongue is strange unto
him.) Yet for all that, as nothing is begun and perfected at the same time, and the latter thoughts are
thought to be the wiser: so, if we building upon their foundation that went before us, and being holpen by
their labours, do endeavour to make that better which they left so good; no man, we are sure, hath cause to

mislike us; they, we persuade ourselves, if they were alive, would thank us. The vintage of Abiezer, that
strake the stroke: yet the gleaning of grapes of Ephraim was not to be despised. See Judges viii. 2. Joash the
king of Israel did not satisfy himself till he had smitten the ground three times; and yet he offended the
Prophet for giving over then. Aquila, of whom we spake before, translated the Bible as carefully and as
skilfully as he could; and yet he thought good to go over it again, and then it got the credit with the Jews to
be called κατ᾽ ἀκρίβειαν, that is, accurately done, as St Hierome witnesseth. How many books of profane
learning have been gone over again and again, by the same translators, by others? Of one and the same book
of Aristotle’s Ethics there are extant not so few as six or seven several translations. Now if this cost may be
bestowed upon the gourd, which affordeth us a little shade, and which to day flourisheth, but to morrow is
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cut down; what may we bestow, nay, what ought we not to bestow, upon the vine, the fruit whereof maketh
glad the conscience of man, and the stem whereof abideth for ever? And this is the word of God, which we
translate. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. Tanti vitreum, quanti verum margaritum! (saith
Tertullian,) if a toy of glass be of that reckoning with us, how ought we to value the true pearl? Therefore let
no man’s eye be evil, because his Majesty’s is good; neither let any be grieved, that we have a Prince that
seeketh the increase of the spiritual wealth of Israel; (let Sanballats and Tobiahs do so, which therefore do
bear their just reproof) but let us rather bless God from the ground of our heart for working this religious
care in him to have the translations of the Bible maturely considered of and examined. For by this means it
cometh to pass, that whatsoever is sound already, (and all is sound for substance in one or other of our
editions, and the worst of ours far better than their authentick Vulgar) the same will shine as gold more
brightly, being rubbed and polished; also, if any thing be halting, or superfluous, or not so agreeable to the
original, the same may be corrected, and the truth set in place. And what can the King command to be
done, that will bring him more true honour than this? And wherein could they that have been set at work
approve their duty to the King, yea, their obedience to God, and love to his Saints, more, than by yielding
their service, and all that is within them, for the furnishing of the work? But besides all this, they were the
principal motives of it, and therefore ought least to quarrel it. For the very historical truth is, that upon the
importunate petitions of the Puritans at his Majesty’s coming to this crown, the conference at Hampton

Court having been appointed for hearing their complaints, when by force of reason they were put from all
other grounds, they had recourse at the last to this shift, that they could not with good conscience subscribe
to the Communion book, since it maintained the Bible as it was there translated, which was, as they said, a
most corrupted translation. And although this was judged to be but a very poor and empty shift, yet even
hereupon did his Majesty begin to bethink himself of the good that might ensue by a new translation, and
presently after gave order for this translation which is now presented unto thee. Thus much to satisfy our
scrupulous brethren.
¶ An answer to the imputations of our adversaries
Now to the latter we answer, That we do not deny, nay, we affirm and avow, that the very meanest
translation of the Bible in English set forth by men of our profession (for we have seen none of theirs of the
whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God: as the King’s speech which he
uttered in Parliament, being translated into French, Dutch, Italian, and Latin, is still the King’s speech,
though it be not interpreted by every translator with the like grace, nor peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor
so expressly for sense, every where. For it is confessed, that things are to take their denomination of the
greater part; and a natural man could say, Verum ubi multa nitent in carmine, non ego paucis offendor
maculis, &c. A man may be counted a virtuous man, though he have made many slips in his life, (else there
were none virtuous, for, In many things we offend all,) also a comely man and lovely, though he have some
warts upon his hand; yea, not only freckles upon his face, but also scars. No cause therefore why the word
translated should be denied to be the word, or forbidden to be current, notwithstanding that some
imperfections and blemishes may be noted in the setting forth of it. For whatever was perfect under the sun,
where Apostles or apostolick men, that is, men endued with an extraordinary measure of God’s Spirit, and
privileged with the privilege of infallibility, had not their hand? The Romanists therefore in refusing to hear,
and daring to burn the word translated, did no less than despite the Spirit of grace, from whom originally it
proceeded, and whose sense and meaning, as well as man’s weakness would enable, it did express. Judge by
an example or two.
Plutarch writeth, that after that Rome had been burnt by the Gauls, they fell soon to build it again: but
doing it in haste, they did not cast the streets, nor proportion the houses, in such comely fashion, as had
been most sightly and convenient. Was Catiline therefore an honest man, or a good patriot, that sought to
bring it to a combustion? or Nero a good Prince, that did indeed set it on fire? So by the story of Ezra and
the prophecy of Haggai it may be gathered, that the temple built by Zerubbabel after the return from

Babylon was by no means to be compared to the former built by Solomon: (for they that remembered the
former wept when they considered the latter) notwithstanding might this latter either have been abhorred
and forsaken by the Jews, or profaned by the Greeks? The like we are to think of translations. The
translation of the Seventy dissenteth from the Original in many places, neither doth it come near it for
perspicuity, gravity, majesty; yet which of the Apostles did condemn it? Condemn it? Nay, they used it, (as it
is apparent, and as St Hierome and most learned men do confess) which they would not have done, nor by
their example of using of it so grace and commend it to the Church, if it had been unworthy the appellation
and name of the word of God. And whereas they urge for their second defence of their vilifying and abusing
of the English Bibles, or some pieces thereof, which they meet with, for that Hereticks forsooth were the
authors of the translations: (Hereticks they call us by the same right that they call themselves Catholicks,
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both being wrong) we marvel what divinity taught them so. We are sure Tertullian was of another mind: Ex
personis probamus fidem, an ex fide personas? Do we try men’s faith by their persons? We should try their
persons by their faith. Also St Augustine was of another mind: for he, lighting upon certain rules made by
Tychonius a Donatist for the better understanding of the Word, was not ashamed to make use of them, yea,
to insert them into his own book, with giving commendation to them so far forth as they were worthy to be
commended, as is to be seen in St Augustine’s third book De Doctrina Christiana. To be short, Origen, and
the whole Church of God for certain hundred years, were of another mind: for they were so far from
treading under foot (much more from burning) the translation of Aquila a proselyte, that is, one that had
turned Jew, of Symmachus, and Theodotion, both Ebionites, that is, most vile hereticks, that they joined
them together with the Hebrew original, and the translation of the Seventy, (as hath been before signified
out of Epiphanius) and set them forth openly to be considered of and perused by all. But we weary the
unlearned, who need not know so much; and trouble the learned, who know it already.
Yet before we end, we must answer a third cavil and objection of theirs against us, for altering and
amending our translation so oft; wherein truly they deal hardly and strangely with us. For to whom ever was
it imputed for a fault (by such as were wise) to go over that which he had done, and to amend it where he
saw cause? St Augustine was not afraid to exhort St Hierome to a Palinodia or recantation. The same St

Augustine was not ashamed to retractate, we might say, revoke, many things that had passed him, and doth
even glory that he seeth his infirmities. If we will be sons of the truth, we must consider what it speaketh,
and trample upon our own credit, yea, and upon other men’s too, if either be any way an hinderance to it.
This to the cause. Then to the persons we say, that of all men they ought to be most silent in this case. For
what varieties have they, and what alterations have they made, not only of their service books, portesses, and
breviaries, but also of their Latin translation? The service book supposed to be made by St Ambrose
(Officium Ambrosianum) was a great while in special use and request: but Pope Adrian, calling a council
with the aid of Charles the Emperor, abolished it, yea, burnt it, and commanded the service book of St
Gregory universally to be used. Well, Officium Gregorianum gets by this means to be in credit; but doth it
continue without change or altering? No, the very Roman service was of two fashions; the new fashion, and
the old, the one used in one Church, and the other in another; as is to be seen in Pamelius a Romanist his
preface before Micrologus. The same Pamelius reporteth out of Radulphus de Rivo, that about the year of
our Lord 1277 Pope Nicolas the third removed out of the churches of Rome the more ancient books (of
service) and brought into use the missals of the Friers Minorites, and commanded them to be observed
there; insomuch that about an hundred years after, when the above named Radulphus happened to be at
Rome, he found all the books to be new, of the new stamp. Neither was there this chopping and changing in
the more ancient times only, but also of late. Pius Quintus himself confesseth, that every bishoprick almost
had a peculiar kind of service, most unlike to that which others had; which moved him to abolish all other
breviaries, though never so ancient, and privileged and published by Bishops in their Dioceses, and to
establish and ratify that only which was of his own setting forth in the year 1568. Now when the Father of
their Church, who gladly would heal the sore of the daughter of his people softly and slightly, and make the
best of it, findeth so great fault with them for their odds and jarring; we hope the children have no great
cause to vaunt of their uniformity. But the difference that appeareth between our translations, and our often
correcting of them, is the thing that we are specially charged with; let us see therefore whether they
themselves be without fault this way, (if it be to be counted a fault to correct) and whether they be fit men
to throw stones at us: O tandem major parcas insane minori: They that are less sound themselves ought not
to object infirmities to others. If we should tell them that Valla, Stapulensis, Erasmus, and Vives, found fault
with their vulgar translation, and consequently wished the same to be mended, or a new one to be made;
they would answer peradventure, that we produced their enemies for witnesses against them; albeit they
were in no other sort enemies, than as St Paul was to the Galatians, for telling them the truth: and it were to

be wished, that they had dared to tell it them plainlier and oftener. But what will they say to this, That Pope
Leo the tenth allowed Erasmus’s translation of the New Testament, so much different from the Vulgar, by
his apostolick letter and bull? That the same Leo exhorted Pagnine to translate the whole Bible, and bare
whatsoever charges was necessary for the work? Surely, as the Apostle reasoneth to the Hebrews, That if the
former Law and Testament had been sufficient, there had been no need of the latter: so we may say, that if
the old Vulgar had been at all points allowable, to small purpose had labour and charges been undergone
about framing of a new. If they say, it was one Pope’s private opinion, and that he consulted only himself;
then we are able to go further with them, and to aver, that more of their chief men of all sorts, even their
own Trent champions, Paiva and Vega, and their own inquisitor Hieronymus ab Oleastro, and their own
Bishop Isidorus Clarius, and their own Cardinal Thomas a Vio Cajetan, do either make new translations
themselves, or follow new ones of other men’s making, or note the Vulgar interpreter for halting, none of
them fear to dissent from him, nor yet to except against him. And call they this an uniform tenor of text and
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judgment about the text, so many of their worthies disclaiming the now received conceit? Nay, we will yet
come nearer the quick. Doth not their Paris edition differ from the Louvain, and Hentenius’s from them
both, and yet all of them allowed by authority? Nay, doth not Sixtus Quintus confess, that certain Catholicks
(he meaneth certain of his own side) were in such an humour of translating the Scriptures into Latin, that
Satan taking occasion by them, though they thought of no such matter, did strive what he could, out of so
uncertain and manifold a variety of translations, so to mingle all things, that nothing might seem to be left
certain and firm in them? &c. Nay further, did not the same Sixtus ordain by an inviolable decree, and that
with the counsel and consent of his Cardinals, that the Latin edition of the Old and New Testament, which
the Council of Trent would have to be authentick, is the same without controversy which he then set forth,
being diligently corrected and printed in the printinghouse of Vatican? Thus Sixtus in his preface before his
Bible. And yet Clement the eighth, his immediate successor, published another edition of the Bible,
containing in it infinite differences from that of Sixtus, and many of them weighty and material; and yet this
must be authentick by all means. What is to have the faith of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with yea and
nay, if this be not? Again, what is sweet harmony and consent, if this be? Therefore, as Demaratus of

Corinth advised a great King, before he talked of the dissensions among the Grecians, to compose his
domestick broils; (for at that time his queen and his son and heir were at deadly feud with him) so all the
while that our adversaries do make so many and so various editions themselves, and do jar so much about
the worth and authority of them, they can with no show of equity challenge us for changing and correcting.
¶ The purpose of the Translators, with their number, furniture, care, &c.
But it is high time to leave them, and to shew in brief what we proposed to ourselves, and what course we
held, in this our perusal and survey of the Bible. Truly, good Christian Reader, we never thought from the
beginning that we should need to make a new translation, nor yet to make of a bad one a good one; (for
then the imputation of Sixtus had been true in some sort, that our people had been fed with gall of dragons
instead of wine, with whey instead of milk;) but to make a good one better, or out of many good ones one
principal good one, not justly to be excepted against; that hath been our endeavour, that our mark. To that
purpose there were many chosen, that were greater in other men’s eyes than in their own, and that sought
the truth rather than their own praise. Again, they came, or were thought to come, to the work, not
exercendi causa, (as one saith) but exercitati, that is, learned, not to learn; for the chief overseer and
ἐργοδιώκτης under his Majesty, to whom not only we, but also our whole Church was much bound, knew by his
wisdom, which thing also Nazianzen taught so long ago, that it is a preposterous order to teach first, and to
learn after, yea that τὸ ἐν πίθῳ κεραμίαν μανθάνειν, to learn and practise together, is neither commendable for the
workman, nor safe for the work. Therefore such were thought upon, as could say modestly with St
Hierome, Et Hebræum sermonem ex parte didicimus, et in Latino pene ab ipsis incunabulis, &c. detriti
sumus; Both we have learned the Hebrew tongue in part, and in the Latin we have been exercised almost
from our very cradle. St Hierome maketh no mention of the Greek tongue, wherein yet he did excel;
because he translated not the Old Testament out of Greek, but out of Hebrew. And in what sort did these
assemble? In the trust of their own knowledge, or of their sharpness of wit, or deepness of judgment, as it
were in an arm of flesh? At no hand. They trusted in him that hath the key of David, opening, and no man
shutting; they prayed to the Lord, the Father of our Lord, to the effect that St Augustine did; O let thy
Scriptures be my pure delight; let me not be deceived in them, neither let me deceive by them. In this
confidence, and with this devotion, did they assemble together; not too many, lest one should trouble
another; and yet many, lest many things haply might escape them. If you ask what they had before them,
truly it was the Hebrew text of the Old Testament, the Greek of the New. These are the two golden pipes, or
rather conduits, wherethrough the olive branches empty themselves into the gold. St Augustine calleth them

precedent, or original, tongues; St Hierome, fountains. The same St Hierome affirmeth, and Gratian hath
not spared to put it into his decree, That as the credit of the old books (he meaneth of the Old Testament) is
to be tried by the Hebrew volumes; so of the New by the Greek tongue, he meaneth by the original Greek. If
truth be to be tried by these tongues, then whence should a translation be made, but out of them? These
tongues therefore (the Scriptures, we say, in those tongues) we set before us to translate, being the tongues
wherein God was pleased to speak to his Church by his Prophets and Apostles. Neither did we run over the
work with that posting haste that the Septuagint did, if that be true which is reported of them, that they
finished it in seventy two days; neither were we barred or hindered from going over it again, having once
done it, like St Hierome, if that be true which himself reporteth, that he could no sooner write any thing,
but presently it was caught from him, and published, and he could not have leave to mend it: neither, to be
short, were we the first that fell in hand with translating the Scripture into English, and consequently
destitute of former helps, as it is written of Origen, that he was the first in a manner, that put his hand to
write commentaries upon the Scriptures, and therefore no marvel if he overshot himself many times. None
of these things: The work hath not been huddled up in seventy two days, but hath cost the workmen, as
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light as it seemeth, the pains of twice seven times seventy two days, and more. Matters of such weight and
consequence are to be speeded with maturity: for in a business of moment a man feareth not the blame of
convenient slackness. Neither did we think much to consult the translators or commentators, Chaldee,
Hebrew, Syrian, Greek, or Latin; no, nor the Spanish, French, Italian, or Dutch; neither did we disdain to
revise that which we had done, and to bring back to the anvil that which we had hammered: but having and
using as great helps as were needful, and fearing no reproach for slowness, nor coveting praise for
expedition, we have at the length, through the good hand of the Lord upon us, brought the work to that
pass that you see.
¶ Reasons moving us to set diversity of senses in the margin, where there is great probability for each
Some peradventure would have no variety of senses to be set in the margin, lest the authority of the
Scriptures for deciding of controversies by that show of uncertainty should somewhat be shaken. But we
hold their judgment not to be so sound in this point. For though, Whatsoever things are necessary are

manifest, as St Chrysostome saith; and, as St Augustine, In those things that are plainly set down in the
Scriptures all such matters are found that concern faith, hope, and charity: yet for all that it cannot be
dissembled, that partly to exercise and whet our wits, partly to wean the curious from loathing of them for
their every where plainness, partly also to stir up our devotion to crave the assistance of God’s Spirit by
prayer, and lastly, that we might be forward to seek aid of our brethren by conference, and never scorn
those that be not in all respects so complete as they should be, being to seek in many things ourselves, it
hath pleased God in his Divine Providence here and there to scatter words and sentences of that difficulty
and doubtfulness, not in doctrinal points that concern salvation, (for in such it hath been vouched that the
Scriptures are plain) but in matters of less moment, that fearfulness would better beseem us than
confidence, and if we will resolve, to resolve upon modesty with St Augustine, (though not in this same case
altogether, yet upon the same ground) Melius est dubitare de occultis, quam litigare de incertis: It is better
to make doubt of those things which are secret, than to strive about those things that are uncertain. There
be many words in the Scriptures which be never found there but once, (having neither brother nor
neighbour, as the Hebrews speak) so that we cannot be holpen by conference of places. Again, there be
many rare names of certain birds, beasts, and precious stones, &c. concerning which the Hebrews
themselves are so divided among themselves for judgment, that they may seem to have defined this or that,
rather because they would say something, than because they were sure of that which they said, as St
Hierome somewhere saith of the Septuagint. Now in such a case doth not a margin do well to admonish the
Reader to seek further, and not to conclude or dogmatize upon this or that peremptorily? For as it is a fault
of incredulity, to doubt of those things that are evident; so to determine of such things as the Spirit of God
hath left (even in the judgment of the judicious) questionable, can be no less than presumption. Therefore
as St Augustine saith, that variety of translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the
Scriptures: so diversity of signification and sense in the margin, where the text is not so clear, must needs do
good; yea, is necessary, as we are persuaded. We know that Sixtus Quintus expressly forbiddeth that any
variety of readings of their Vulgar edition should be put in the margin; (which though it be not altogether
the same thing to that we have in hand, yet it looketh that way;) but we think he hath not all of his own side
his favourers for this conceit. They that are wise had rather have their judgments at liberty in differences of
readings, than to be captivated to one, when it may be the other. If they were sure that their high priest had
all laws shut up in his breast, as Paul the second bragged, and that he were as free from error by special
privilege, as the dictators of Rome were made by law inviolable, it were another matter; then his word were

an oracle, his opinion a decision. But the eyes of the world are now open, God be thanked, and have been a
great while; they find that he is subject to the same affections and infirmities that others be, that his skin is
penetrable, and therefore so much as he proveth, not as much as he claimeth, they grant and embrace.
¶ Reasons inducing us not to stand curiously upon an identity of phrasing
Another thing we think good to admonish thee of, gentle Reader, that we have not tied ourselves to an
uniformity of phrasing, or to an identity of words, as some peradventure would wish that we had done,
because they observe, that some learned men somewhere have been as exact as they could that way. Truly,
that we might not vary from the sense of that which we had translated before, if the word signified the same
thing in both places, (for there be some words that be not of the same sense every where) we were especially
careful, and made a conscience, according to our duty. But that we should express the same notion in the
same particular word; as for example, if we translate the Hebrew or Greek word once by ‘purpose’, never to
call it ‘intent’; if one where ‘journeying’, never ‘travelling’; if one where ‘think’, never ‘suppose’; if one where
‘pain’, never ‘ache’; if one where ‘joy’, never ‘gladness’, &c. thus to mince the matter, we thought to savour
more of curiosity than wisdom, and that rather it would breed scorn in the atheist, than bring profit to the
godly reader. For is the kingdom of God become words or syllables? Why should we be in bondage to them,
xiv


THE TRANSLATORS TO THE READER
if we may be free? use one precisely, when we may use another no less fit as commodiously? A godly Father
in the primitive time shewed himself greatly moved, that one of newfangledness called κράββατον, σκίμπους,
though the difference be little or none; and another reporteth, that he was much abused for turning
‘cucurbita’ (to which reading the people had been used) into ‘hedera’. Now if this happen in better times,
and upon so small occasions, we might justly fear hard censure, if generally we should make verbal and
unnecessary changings. We might also be charged (by scoffers) with some unequal dealing towards a great
number of good English words. For as it is written of a certain great Philosopher, that he should say, that
those logs were happy that were made images to be worshipped; for their fellows, as good as they, lay for
blocks behind the fire: so if we should say, as it were, unto certain words, Stand up higher, have a place in
the Bible always; and to others of like quality, Get ye hence, be banished for ever; we might be taxed
peradventure with St James his words, namely, To be partial in ourselves, and judges of evil thoughts. Add

hereunto, that niceness in words was always counted the next step to trifling; and so was to be curious about
names too: also that we cannot follow a better pattern for elocution than God himself; therefore he using
divers words in his holy writ, and indifferently for one thing in nature; we, if we will not be superstitious,
may use the same liberty in our English versions out of Hebrew and Greek, for that copy or store that he
hath given us. Lastly, we have on the one side avoided the scrupulosity of the Puritans, who leave the old
Ecclesiastical words, and betake them to other, as when they put ‘washing’ for ‘baptism’, and ‘congregation’
instead of ‘church’: as also on the other side we have shunned the obscurity of the Papists, in their ‘azymes’,
‘tunik’, ‘rational’, ‘holocausts’, ‘prepuce’, ‘pasche’, and a number of such like, whereof their late translation
is full, and that of purpose to darken the sense, that since they must needs translate the Bible, yet by the
language thereof it may be kept from being understood. But we desire that the Scripture may speak like
itself, as in the language of Canaan, that it may be understood even of the very vulgar.
Many other things we might give thee warning of, gentle Reader, if we had not exceeded the measure of a
preface already. It remaineth that we commend thee to God, and to the Spirit of his grace, which is able to
build further than we can ask or think. He removeth the scales from our eyes, the vail from our hearts,
opening our wits that we may understand his word, enlarging our hearts, yea, correcting our affections, that
we may love it above gold and silver, yea, that we may love it to the end. Ye are brought unto fountains of
living water which ye digged not; do not cast earth into them, with the Philistines, neither prefer broken pits
before them, with the wicked Jews. Others have laboured, and you may enter into their labours. O receive
not so great things in vain: O despise not so great salvation. Be not like swine to tread under foot so precious
things, neither yet like dogs to tear and abuse holy things. Say not to our Saviour with the Gergesites, Depart
out of our coasts; neither yet with Esau sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. If light be come into the
world, love not darkness more than light: if food, if clothing, be offered, go not naked, starve not yourselves.
Remember the advice of Nazianzene, It is a grievous thing (or dangerous) to neglect a great fair, and to seek
to make markets afterwards: also the encouragement of St Chrysostome, It is altogether impossible, that he
that is sober (and watchful) should at any time be neglected: lastly, the admonition and menacing of St
Augustine, They that despise God’s will inviting them shall feel God’s will taking vengeance of them. It is a
fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; but a blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting
blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when he setteth his word before us, to read
it; when he stretcheth out his hand and calleth, to answer, Here am I, here we are to do thy will, O God. The
Lord work a care and conscience in us to know him and serve him, that we may be acknowledged of him at

the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the Holy Ghost be all praise and thanksgiving.
Amen.

xv


HOW TO KNOW THE
PURE CAMBRIDGE EDITION
OF THE KING JAMES BIBLE
It is important to have the correct, perfect and final text of the King James Bible, since there are correctors
(e.g. publishers) who have changed some aspects of King James Bible texts. The final form of the King James
Bible is the Pure Cambridge Edition (circa 1900), which conforms to the following:
1. “or Sheba” not “and Sheba” in Joshua 19:2
2. “sin” not “sins” in 2 Chronicles 33:19
3. “Spirit of God” not “spirit of God” in Job 33:4
4. “whom ye” not “whom he” in Jeremiah 34:16
5. “Spirit of God” not “spirit of God” in Ezekiel 11:24
6. “flieth” not “fleeth” in Nahum 3:16
7. “Spirit” not “spirit” in Matthew 4:1
8. “further” not “farther” in Matthew 26:39
9. “bewrayeth” not “betrayeth” in Matthew 26:73
10. “Spirit” not “spirit” in Mark 1:12
11. “spirit” not “Spirit” in Acts 11:28
12. “spirit” not “Spirit” in 1 John 5:8
THE GUARDIANS OF THE PURE CAMBRIDGE EDITION

xvi


THE NAMES AND ORDER OF ALL THE

BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT,
WITH THE NUMBER OF THEIR CHAPTERS.

———————
The Books of the Old Testament.
GENESIS
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs

Page
1
43

78
104
140
170
190
210
213
239
261
287
311
335
363
372
384
391
412
464

Chaps
50
40
27
36
34
24
21
4
31
24

22
25
29
36
10
13
10
42
150
31

Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi

Page
482
488
491
530
575
579
620
633
639
642
647
648
650
654
656
658
660
662
669

Chaps
12
8
66
52
5
48
12

14
3
9
1
4
7
3
3
3
2
14
4

Page
843
846
849
851
852
860
863
866
868
871
872
873
874

Chaps
6

4
3
1
13
5
5
3
5
1
1
1
22

———————
The Books of the New Testament.
MATTHEW
Mark
Luke
John
The Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians

Page
674
701
718
747
768
795
806
817
824
828
832
835
838
841

Chaps
28
16
24
21
28
16
16
13
6
6
4
4
5

3

1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation

xvii



THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES
CALLED

GENESIS
CHAPTER 1
N the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and
darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was
light.
4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God
divided the light from the darkness.
5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he
called Night. And the evening and the morning were
the first day.
6 ¶ And God said, Let there be a firmament in the
midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from
the waters.
7 And God made the firmament, and divided the
waters which were under the firmament from the
waters which were above the firmament: and it was
so.
8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the
evening and the morning were the second day.
9 ¶ And God said, Let the waters under the heaven
be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry
land appear: and it was so.
10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the
gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and
God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the
herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit
after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth:
and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb
yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding
fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and
God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third
day.
14 ¶ And God said, Let there be lights in the
firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the
night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and
for days, and years:
15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the
heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light
to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night:
he made the stars also.
17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven
to give light upon the earth,
18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and
to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw
that it was good.
19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth
day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth
abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and
fowl that may fly above the earth in the open
firmament of heaven.
21 And God created great whales, and every living
creature that moveth, which the waters brought
forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged
fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl
multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth
day.
24 ¶ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the
living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping
thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was
so.
25 And God made the beast of the earth after his
kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that
creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw
that it was good.
26 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image,
after our likeness: and let them have dominion over
the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and
over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God created he him; male and female
created he them.
28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth,
and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of
the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every
living thing that moveth upon the earth.
29 ¶ And God said, Behold, I have given you every
herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the
earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a
tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl
of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the
earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green

herb for meat: and it was so.
31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and,
behold, it was very good. And the evening and the
morning were the sixth day.

I

CHAPTER 2
HUS the heavens and the earth were finished,
and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which
he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from
all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:
because that in it he had rested from all his work
which God created and made.

T

1


GENESIS
4 ¶ These are the generations of the heavens and of 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones,
the earth when they were created, in the day that the and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman,
LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
because she was taken out of Man.
5 And every plant of the field before it was in the 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his
earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall
the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the be one flesh.

25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife,
earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and and were not ashamed.
watered the whole face of the ground.
CHAPTER 3
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the
OW the serpent was more subtil than any beast
ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of
of the field which the LORD God had made.
life; and man became a living soul.
8 ¶ And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
Eden; and there he put the man whom he had shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat
formed.
9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of
good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it,
neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not
and from thence it was parted, and became into four surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof,
heads.
11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as
compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good
gold;
12 And the gold of that land is good: there is for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a
tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the
bdellium and the onyx stone.

13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
same is it that compasseth the whole land of husband with her; and he did eat.
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they
Ethiopia.
14 And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves
is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking
fourth river is Euphrates.
15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and
his wife hid themselves from the presence of the
into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said
Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, unto him, Where art thou?
thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I
was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
thereof thou shalt surely die.
18 ¶ And the LORD God said, It is not good that the 11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked?
man should be alone; I will make him an help meet Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded
thee that thou shouldest not eat?
for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest
every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
brought them unto Adam to see what he would call 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is
them: and whatsoever Adam called every living this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The
serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the 14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because
fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle,

and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly
Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of
upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the
ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;
22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall
man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply
man.
thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt

N

2


GENESIS
bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which
husband, and he shall rule over thee.
hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast blood from thy hand;
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not
of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive
Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy 13 And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is
greater than I can bear.
life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from
the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid;

thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth;
thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth
taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou me shall slay me.
15 And the LORD said unto him, Therefore
return.
20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on
she was the mother of all living.
him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain,
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD lest any finding him should kill him.
16 ¶ And Cain went out from the presence of the
God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
22 ¶ And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of
become as one of us, to know good and evil: and Eden.
now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and
bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the
tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.
garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat
Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and
was taken.
24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the Methusael begat Lamech.
east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming 19 ¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives: the
sword which turned every way, to keep the way of name of the one was Adah, and the name of the
other Zillah.
the tree of life.
20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as
CHAPTER 4
dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
ND Adam knew Eve his wife; and she 21 And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the

conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have father of all such as handle the harp and organ.
gotten a man from the LORD.
22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was instructer of every artificer in brass and iron: and the
a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah.
ground.
23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken
brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my
the LORD.
wounding, and a young man to my hurt.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his 24 If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech
flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had seventy and sevenfold.
respect unto Abel and to his offering:
25 ¶ And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she,
respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel,
countenance fell.
whom Cain slew.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son;
wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
and he called his name Enos: then began men to call
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and upon the name of the LORD.
if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto
CHAPTER 5
thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
HIS is the book of the generations of Adam. In
8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came
the day that God created man, in the likeness of
to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose

God made he him;
up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
9 ¶ And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy 2 Male and female created he them; and blessed
brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s them, and called their name Adam, in the day when
keeper?
they were created.
10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of
thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground.

A

T

3


GENESIS
3 ¶ And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, 29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same
and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our
and called his name Seth:
hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath
4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth cursed.
were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and 30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five
hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and
daughters:
5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine daughters:
31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred
hundred and thirty years: and he died.
6 And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and seventy and seven years: and he died.
32 And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah

begat Enos:
7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
and seven years, and begat sons and daughters:
CHAPTER 6
8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and
ND it came to pass, when men began to
twelve years: and he died.
multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters
9 ¶ And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:
10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight were born unto them,
hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men
that they were fair; and they took them wives of all
daughters:
11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and which they chose.
3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always
five years: and he died.
12 ¶ And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days
shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Mahalaleel:
13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight 4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and
hundred and forty years, and begat sons and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto
the daughters of men, and they bare children to
daughters:
14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred them, the same became mighty men which were of
old, men of renown.
and ten years: and he died.
15 ¶ And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and 5 ¶ And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was
great in the earth, and that every imagination of the
begat Jared:
16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and 6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man
on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
daughters:
17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I
have created from the face of the earth; both man,
hundred ninety and five years: and he died.
18 ¶ And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of
the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
and he begat Enoch:
19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a
hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah
walked with God.
and two years: and he died.
21 ¶ And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth.
Methuselah:
22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the
Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it
daughters:
23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon
the earth.
sixty and five years:
24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is
come before me; for the earth is filled with violence
God took him.
25 And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with
the earth.

seven years, and begat Lamech:
26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech 14 ¶ Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt
seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and
without with pitch.
and daughters:
27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of:
The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits,
hundred sixty and nine years: and he died.
28 ¶ And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it
thirty cubits.
years, and begat a son:

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GENESIS
16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a 13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and
cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s
ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into
second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
the ark;
17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters 14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the
upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that
breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every
that is in the earth shall die.
fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.
18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two
thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
16 And they that went in, went in male and female of
19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD
sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive shut him in.
17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and
with thee; they shall be male and female.
20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was
kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his lift up above the earth.
kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased
greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the
them alive.
21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, face of the waters.
and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the
earth; and all the high hills, that were under the
food for thee, and for them.
22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God whole heaven, were covered.
20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and
commanded him, so did he.
the mountains were covered.
CHAPTER 7
21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth,
ND the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every
all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and
righteous before me in this generation.
every man:
2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all
sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that that was in the dry land, died.
are not clean by two, the male and his female.
23 And every living substance was destroyed which
3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the was upon the face of the ground, both man, and

female; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the
earth.
heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and
4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon Noah only remained alive, and they that were with
the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living him in the ark.
substance that I have made will I destroy from off 24 And the waters prevailed upon the earth an
the face of the earth.
hundred and fifty days.
5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD
commanded him.
CHAPTER 8
6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the
ND God remembered Noah, and every living
flood of waters was upon the earth.
thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the
7 ¶ And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth,
and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of and the waters asswaged;
the waters of the flood.
2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of
8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was
and of fowls, and of every thing that creepeth upon restrained;
the earth,
3 And the waters returned from off the earth
9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the continually: and after the end of the hundred and
ark, the male and the female, as God had fifty days the waters were abated.
commanded Noah.
4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the
10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains
waters of the flood were upon the earth.
of Ararat.

11 ¶ In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the 5 And the waters decreased continually until the
second month, the seventeenth day of the month, tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of
the same day were all the fountains of the great deep the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.
broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 6 ¶ And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that
12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and Noah opened the window of the ark which he had
forty nights.
made:

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GENESIS
7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they
fro, until the waters were dried up from off the delivered.
earth.
3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for
8 Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the you; even as the green herb have I given you all
waters were abated from off the face of the ground;
things.
9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood
and she returned unto him into the ark, for the thereof, shall ye not eat.
waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require;
put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the
hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will
unto him into the ark.
10 And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he I require the life of man.

sent forth the dove out of the ark;
6 Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his
11 And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, blood be shed: for in the image of God made he
lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah man.
knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth
12 And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein.
the dove; which returned not again unto him any 8 ¶ And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with
more.
him, saying,
13 ¶ And it came to pass in the six hundredth and 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you,
first year, in the first month, the first day of the and with your seed after you;
month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of
and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth
looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry. with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every
14 And in the second month, on the seven and beast of the earth.
twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.
11 And I will establish my covenant with you;
15 ¶ And God spake unto Noah, saying,
neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the
16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a
sons, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
flood to destroy the earth.
17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is 12 And God said, This is the token of the covenant
with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and which I make between me and you and every living
of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a
token of a covenant between me and the earth.
fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.
18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud
and his sons’ wives with him:

over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the
19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, cloud:
and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is
kinds, went forth out of the ark.
between me and you and every living creature of all
20 ¶ And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood
took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, to destroy all flesh.
and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look
21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the upon it, that I may remember the everlasting
LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the covenant between God and every living creature of
ground any more for man’s sake; for the all flesh that is upon the earth.
imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the
neither will I again smite any more every thing covenant, which I have established between me and
living, as I have done.
all flesh that is upon the earth.
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, 18 ¶ And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the
and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is
and night shall not cease.
the father of Canaan.
19 These are the three sons of Noah: and of them
CHAPTER 9
was the whole earth overspread.
ND God blessed Noah and his sons, and said 20 And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he
unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and planted a vineyard:
replenish the earth.
21 And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and
2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be he was uncovered within his tent.
upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the
of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren

without.

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GENESIS
23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the
it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the
and covered the nakedness of their father; and their Canaanites spread abroad.
faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s 19 And the border of the Canaanites was from
nakedness.
Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou
24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and
his younger son had done unto him.
Zeboim, even unto Lasha.
25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families,
servants shall he be unto his brethren.
after their tongues, in their countries, and in their
26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; nations.
and Canaan shall be his servant.
21 ¶ Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him
the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
were children born.
28 ¶ And Noah lived after the flood three hundred 22 The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and
and fifty years.
Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram.
29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and 23 And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and

fifty years: and he died.
Gether, and Mash.
24 And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.
CHAPTER 10
25 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of
OW these are the generations of the sons of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided;
Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto and his brother’s name was Joktan.
them were sons born after the flood.
26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and
2 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,
Tiras.
28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were
and Togarmah.
the sons of Joktan.
4 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest
Kittim, and Dodanim.
unto Sephar a mount of the east.
5 By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families,
their lands; every one after his tongue, after their after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations.
families, in their nations.
32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after
6 ¶ And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and their generations, in their nations: and by these were
Phut, and Canaan.
the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
7 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and
Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of
CHAPTER 11
Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

ND the whole earth was of one language, and of
8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty
one speech.
one in the earth.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the
9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar;
wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty and they dwelt there.
hunter before the LORD.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make
10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick
Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. for stone, and slime had they for morter.
11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a
Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah,
tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us
12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon
is a great city.
the face of the whole earth.
13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the
tower, which the children of men builded.
Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
14 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom 6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and
they have all one language; and this they begin to do:
came Philistim,) and Caphtorim.
15 ¶ And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and and now nothing will be restrained from them,
which they have imagined to do.
Heth,
16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their
language, that they may not understand one
Girgasite,
another’s speech.

17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

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