Preface to the King
James Translation of 1611 |
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Submitted by Elder
Bill Allen |
(Not Copyrighted)
Part VI The Translators To The Reader
A SATISFACTION TO OUR BRETHREN
And to the same effect say we,
that we are so far off from condemning any of their labors
that travailed 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 music; 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 giveth 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 a 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 S.
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 later 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 endeavor 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 8:2. 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. [2 Kings 13:18-19] 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
kata akribeian, that
is, accurately done, as Saint Jerome 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 today flourisheth, but tomorrow is 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 forever? And this is
the word of God, which we translate. What is the chaff to
the wheat, saith the Lord? [Jer 23:28] 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 authentic vulgar) the same will
shine as gold more brightly, being rubbed and polished;
also, if anything 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 a 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.
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