The other day I went to purchase a copy of the KJV Bible because I could no longer stand being bound to internet reading...and because I had/have fallen terribly behind on the reading schedule. My intent was to purchase the least expensive edition available, that also didn't set my teeth on edge with some crazy cover. In the end, though, I walked away (after paying, of course) with the Cambridge University Press' "Personal Concord Edition." As soon as I saw the royal seal and the inclusion of both the translators' dedication of the translation to King James and also their note to the readers...the early modern scholar in me insisted that I have this edition. (Also, it's really a lovely artifact. Nicely sized. Pleasantly bound. A decent type-face.)
I just finished reading the preface the translators wrote to the readers back in 1611 and wanted to share a few of their more lovely calls to study. There are a lot of interesting tidbits in this preface about the history of Biblical translations and the rationale for this one, but I found these calls rather encouraging and inspiring. I hope you do too.
From a section titled "The Praise of the Holy Scriptures":
"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? ... 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. ... Happy is the man that delighteth in the Scripture, and thrice happy that meditateth in it day and night."
From the final section, titled "Reasons inducing us not to stand curiously upon an identity of phrasing":
"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. ... 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."
I just finished reading the preface the translators wrote to the readers back in 1611 and wanted to share a few of their more lovely calls to study. There are a lot of interesting tidbits in this preface about the history of Biblical translations and the rationale for this one, but I found these calls rather encouraging and inspiring. I hope you do too.
From a section titled "The Praise of the Holy Scriptures":
"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? ... 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. ... Happy is the man that delighteth in the Scripture, and thrice happy that meditateth in it day and night."
From the final section, titled "Reasons inducing us not to stand curiously upon an identity of phrasing":
"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. ... 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."
Wonderful. I've been contemplating just such a purchase myself, and am by your post even more inclined. I hesitate only because I have an old KJV packed away amongst my beloved books that didn't make the trip to Iowa, and whenever I shall be reunited with that store, I cannot say. Hmmm...
ReplyDeleteI'd recommend it, Michelle. I am loving this edition and somehow the artifact itself helps me get more into the project and the word. As book-lovers, I think that sometimes a material book we really love helps also love the words within even more. :) Plus, the Cambridge edition comes with a little card that says:
ReplyDelete"Your Cambridge Bible has been made with skill and care from the best and most appropriate materials. Treat it with reasonable care and respect as befits a well-made and valuable article and it will give you a great deal of use."
Delightful, no?
oh, i love that pastoral voice. i love it when someone commends me into the hands of god. whatever the attendant politics of the king james translation, it's a beautiful thing to know the translators themselves saw their readers this way.
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