« | Isaiah 39 | » |
1 At the same tyme Merodach Baladan, Baladans sonne kyng of Babylon, sent letters and presentes to Hezekia: for he vnderstoode that he had ben sicke, and was recouered agayne.
2 And Hezekia was glad therof, and shewed them the house of his treasures of siluer and golde, of spices, and rootes, of precious oyles, & all that was in his cubbordes and treasure houses: there was not one thyng in Hezekias house, and so throughout all his kyngdome, but he let them see it.
3 Then came Esai the prophete to king Hezekia, and sayde vnto hym: What haue the men sayde, and from whence came they vnto thee? Hezekia aunswered, They came out of a farre countrey vnto me, out of Babylon.
4 Esai sayde, What haue they loked vpon in thy house? Hezekia aunswered, All that is in my house haue they seene, and there is nothyng in my treasure but I shewed it them.
5 Then sayde Esai vnto Hezekia: Understande the worde of the Lorde of hoastes:
6 Beholde, the tyme wyll come that euery thyng which is in thyne house, and all that thy progenitours haue layde vp in store vntyll this day, shalbe caryed to Babylon, and nothing left behynde, thus saith the Lorde.
7 Yea and part of thy sonnes that shall come of thee, & whom thou shalt beget, shalbe caryed hence, and become gelded chamberlaynes in the kyng of Babylons court.
8 Then sayde Hezekia to Esai, Good is the worde of God which thou hast tolde me. He sayd moreouer. For there shalbe peace and faythfulnesse in my tyme.
The Bishop’s Bible (BB)
The Bishop’s Bible (BB) is a significant English translation of the Bible that was first published in 1568 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. It was commissioned by the Church of England as a revision of the Great Bible and as a response to the Geneva Bible, which was popular among the Puritans but contained marginal notes that were considered politically and theologically contentious by the Anglican establishment. The primary goal of the Bishop’ s Bible was to create a translation that would be more acceptable to the ecclesiastical authorities and suitable for use in Anglican churches.
One of the distinguishing features of the Bishop’s Bible is its effort to maintain a high level of accuracy and scholarly integrity while also ensuring that the language used was dignified and appropriate for public reading. The translation was undertaken by a team of bishops and other scholars, hence its name. The translators aimed to preserve the poetic and literary qualities of the original texts, drawing on previous translations such as the Tyndale Bible, the Coverdale Bible, and the Great Bible, while also incorporating their scholarly insights and linguistic refinements.
The Bishop’s Bible was notable for its large, folio format, which was designed to be read from the pulpit. It included extensive marginal notes, though these were more restrained and less controversial than those found in the Geneva Bible. The translation also featured elaborate illustrations and maps, as well as a comprehensive introduction and various prefaces that provided context and guidance for readers. Despite its grandeur and scholarly merit, the Bishop’s Bible did not achieve the widespread popularity of the Geneva Bible among the general populace.