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Title: The King James Version of the Holy Bible

Creator(s): Anonymous
Rights: Public Domain
CCEL Subjects: All; Bible; Old Testament; New Testament; Apocrypha
LC Call no: BS185
LC Subjects:

The Bible

Modern texts and versions

English
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Holy Bible

King James Version

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TO THE MOST HIGH AND MIGHTY PRINCE JAMES, BY THE GRACE OF GOD,

KING OF GREAT BRITIAN, FRANCE, AND IRELAND,

DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, ETC.

THE TRANSLATORS OF THE BIBLE WISH GRACE, MERCY, AND PEACE,

THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR Lord

Great 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
Occindental 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 of 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 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 judgement,
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 ever been subject to the censures of ill-meaning 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 self-conceited
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

Preface to the King James Version of 1611

THE BEST THINGS HAVE BEEN CULMINATED

Zeal to promote the common good, whether it be by devising anything

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 a 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-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 lead 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.

Yet for all that, the learned know that certain worthy men [Anacharsis
with others] have been brought to untimely death for none other fault,
but for seeking to reduce their Countrymen to god order and discipline;
and that in some Commonwealths [e.g. Locri] 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 [Cato the
elder], 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 [Gregory the Divine], 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 [Nauclerus], though superstitious) was devised;
Namely, that at such a 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, etc. Thus not only as oft as we speak, as
one saith, but also as oft as we do anything of note or consequence, we
subject ourselves to everyone'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 the other," as
it is in Samuel [2 Sam 11:25], 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:" [1 Kings 22:31] 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 as 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 [2 Sam
6:16]. 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
a one as was the glory of the land of Israel, and the wonder of the
whole world. But was that his magnificence liked of by all? We doubt
it. Otherwise, why do they lay it in his son's dish, and call unto him
for easing the burden, "Make", say they, "the grievous servitude of thy
father, and his sore yoke, lighter?" [1 Kings 12:4] 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 ones
conscience.

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 [C.
Caesar. Plutarch] 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 arrogance, and procured to him great obloguy. So
the first Christened Emperor [Constantine] (at the least-wise 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
[Aurel. Victor]. So the best Christened Emperor [Theodosius], for the
love that he bare unto peace, thereby to enrich both himself and his
subjects, and because he did not see war but find it, was judged to be
no man at arms [Zosimus], (though indeed he excelled in feats of
chivalry, and showed 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 [Justinian], (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 had been blotted by some to be an Epitomist, that
is, one that extinguishes 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; "You
are risen up in your fathers' stead, and increase of sinful men." [Num
32:14] "What is that that hath been done? that which shall be done; and
there is no new thing under the Sun," saith the wiseman: [Ecc 1:9] and
S. Stephen, "As your fathers did, so do you." [Acts 7:51]

HIS MAJESTY'S CONSTANCY, NOTWITHSTANDING CULMINATION, 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 forever, "Himself and
children, and children's 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
anything for the public (especially if it pertain to Religion, and to
the opening and clearing of the word of God) the same setteth himself
upon a stage to be gloated upon by every evil eye, yea, he casteth
himself headlong upon pikes, to be gored by every sharp tongue. For he
that medleth with men's Religion in any part, medleth 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
that colour, but stood resolute, "as a statue immovable, and an anvil
not easy to be beaten into plates," as one [Suidas] 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 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,
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 honor me, I will honor," [1 Sam 2:30] 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 [Eusebius lib 10 cap 8].

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
5:39. Isa 8:20. They are commended that searched and studied them. Acts
17:11 and 8:28,29. They are reproved that were unskillful in them, or
slow to believe them. Matt 22:29. Luke 24:25. They can make us wise
unto salvation. 2 Tim 3:15. 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 [S. August. confess. lib 8 cap 12], (for unto them
was the direction) it was said unto S. Augustine by a supernatural
voice. "Whatsoever is in the Scriptures, believe me," saith the same S.
Augustine, "is high and divine; there is verily truth, and a doctrine
most fit for the refreshing of men's minds, and truly so tempered, that
everyone 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."
[S. August. de utilitcredendi cap. 6] Thus S. Augustine. and S. Jerome:
"Ama scripturas, et amabit te sapientia etc." [S. Jerome. ad Demetriad]
Love the Scriptures, and wisdom will love thee. And S. Cyril against
Julian; "Even boys that are bred up in the Scriptures, become most
religious, etc. [S. Cyril. 7 contra Iulianum] But what mention we three
or four uses of the Scripture, whereas whatsoever is to be believed or
practiced, or hoped for, is contained in them? or three or four
sentences of the Fathers, since 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.
[Tertul. advers. Hermo.] And again, to Apelles an heretic 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."
[Tertul. de carne Christi.] So Saint Justin Martyr before him; "We must
know by all means," saith he, "that it is not lawful (or possible) to
learn (anything) of God or of right piety, save only out of the
Prophets, who teach us by divine inspiration." So Saint Basil after
Tertullian, "It is a manifest falling way 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) any of those things that are not
written. We omit to cite to the same effect, S. Cyril B. of Jerusalem
in his 4::Cataches., Saint Jerome against Helvidius, Saint Augustine in
his 3::book against the letters of Petilian, and in very many other
places of his works. Also we forebear to descend to later 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 [an olive bow wrapped about with
wood, whereupon did hang figs, and bread, honey in a pot, and oil], how
many sweet and goodly things it had hanging on it; of the Philosopher's
stone, that it turned copper into gold; of Cornucopia, that it had all
things necessary for food in it, of Panaces the herb, that it was good
for diseases, of Catholicon the drug, that it is instead of all purges;
of Vulcan's armor, that it was an armor of proof against all thrusts,
and all blows, etc. Well, that which they falsely or vainly attributed
to these things for bodily god, we may justly and with full measure
ascribe unto the Scripture, for spiritual. It is not only an armor, but
also a whole armory 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 (Saint Basil called it) [S. Basil in Psal. primum.] 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, etc.; 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 delighted 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." [1 Cor 14] 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; [Clem. Alex. 1 Strom.] so the Roman did the Syrian, and the
Jew (even S. Jerome himself called the Hebrew tongue barbarous, belike
because it was strange to so many) [S. Jerome. Damaso.] so the Emperor
of Constantinople [Michael, Theophili fil.] calleth the Latin tongue,
barbarous, though Pope Nicolas do storm at it: [2::Tom. Concil. ex
edit. Petri Crab] so the Jews long before Christ called all other
nations, Lognazim, 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: [Cicero 5::de finibus.] 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 [Gen 29:10].
Indeed without translation into the vulgar tongue, the unlearned are
but like children at Jacob's well (which is deep) [John 4:11] without a
bucket or something to draw with; or as that person mentioned by
Isaiah, 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." [Isa 29:11]

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. [S. August.
lib 12 contra Faust c32] 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 Saint 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 conquest 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
Africa 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 it
needed in many places correction; and who had been so sufficient for
this work as the Apostles or Apostolic 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 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 Translations to
serve their own turn, and therefore bearing a 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. [Epiphan. de mensur. et
ponderibus.] 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 gathered) but also was used by
the Greek fathers for the ground and foundation of their Commentaries.
Yea, Epiphanius above named doeth attribute so much unto it, that he
holdeth the Authors thereof not only for Interpreters, but also for
Prophets in some respect [S. August. 2::de dectrin. Christian c. 15];
and Justinian the Emperor enjoining the Jews his subjects to use
especially the Translation of the Seventy, rendreth 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 [Isa 31:3]; so
it is evident, (and Saint Jerome affirmeth as much) [S. Jerome. de
optimo genere interpret.] 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 Interprets nullo modo numerari possunt, saith S. Augustine.)
[S. Augustin. de doctr. Christ. lib 2 cap II]. 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 S. Jerome a most learned father, and the best linguist without
controversy, of his age, or of any that went before him, to undertake
the translating of the Old Testament, out of the very fountain with
that evidence of great learning, judgment, industry, and faithfulness,
that he had forever bound the Church unto him, in a debt of special
remembrance and thankfulness.

THE TRANSLATING OF THE SCRIPTURE INTO THE VULGAR TONGUES

Now through 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 S. Jerome's time, the
Consul of Rome and his wife were both Ethnics, and about the same time
the greatest part of the Senate also) [S. Jerome. Marcell.Zosim] yet
for all that the godly-learned were not content to have the Scriptures
in the Language which they themselves understood, Greek and Latin, (as
the good Lepers were not content to fare well themselves, but
acquainted their neighbors with the store that God had sent, that they
also might provide for themselves) [2 Kings 7:9] 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 S. Jerome saith, Multarum gentium linguis Scriptura
ante translata, docet falsa esse quae addita sunt, etc. i.e. "The
Scripture being translated before in the languages of many Nations,
doth show that those things that were added (by Lucian and Hesychius)
are false." [S. Jerome. praef. in 4::Evangel.] So S. Jerome in that
place. The same Jerome elsewhere affirmeth that he, the time was, had
set forth the translation of the Seventy suae linguae hominibus, i.e.,
for his countrymen of Dalmatia [S. Jerome. Sophronio.] Which words not
only Erasmus doth understand to purport, that S. Jerome translated the
Scripture into the Dalmatian tongue, but also Sixtus Senensis [Six.
Sen. lib 4], and Alphonsus a` Castro [Alphon. lb 1 ca 23] (that we
speak of no more) men not to be excepted against by them of Rome, do
ingenuously confess as much. So, S. Chrysostom that lived in S.
Jerome's time, giveth evidence with him: "The doctrine of S. 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. [S. Chrysost. in Johan. cap.I. hom.I.] 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. [Theodor. 5.
Therapeut.] So he. In like manner, Ulfilas is reported by Paulus
Diaconus and Isidor (and before them by Sozomen) to have translated the
Scriptures into the Gothic tongue: [P. Diacon. li. 12.] John Bishop of
Sevil by Vasseus, to have turned them into Arabic, about the year of
our Lord 717; [Vaseus in Chron. Hispan.] Bede by Cistertiensis, to have
turned a great part of them into Saxon: Efnard by Trithemius, to have
abridged the French Psalter, as Beded had done the Hebrew, about the
year 800: King Alfred by the said Cistertiensis, to have turned the
Psalter into Saxon: [Polydor. Virg. 5 histor.] Methodius by Aventinus
(printed at Ingolstadt) to have turned the Scriptures into Slavonian:
[Aventin. lib. 4.] Valdo, Bishop of Frising by Beatus Rhenanus, to have
caused about that time, the Gospels to be translated into Dutch rhythm,
yet extant in the Library of Corbinian: [Circa annum 900. B. Rhenan.
rerum German. lib 2.] Valdus, by divers to have turned them himself
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
Arabic 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 Pslater 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,
[Thuan.] 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 Psalms, "As we have heard, so we have seen." [Ps 48:8]

THE UNWILLINGNESS OF OUR CHIEF ADVERSARIES, THAT THE SCRIPTURES SHOULD BE

DIVULGED IN THE MOTHER TONGUE, ETC.

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: [Sophecles] 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. [See the observation (set forth by Clemen. His authority) upon
the 4. rule of Pius the 4. his making in the index, lib. prohib. pag.
15. ver. 5.] So much are they afraid of the light of the Scripture,
(Lucifugae Scripturarum, as Tertulian speaketh) that they will not
trust the people with it, no not as it is set forth by their own sworn
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; [Tertul. de resur.
carnis.] neither is it the true man that shunneth the light, but the
malefactor, lest his deeds should be reproved [John 3:20]: 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 open 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, here
silver with dross, her wine with water, her milk with lime? (Lacte
gypsum male miscetur, saith S. Ireney,) [S. Iren. 3. lib. cap. 19.] We
hoped that we had been in the right way, that we 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 Jerusalem, like Sanballat in Nehemiah, mock,
as we hear, both the work and the workmen, saying; "What do these weak
Jews, etc. 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." [Neh 4:3] 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 Catholics (meaning Popish
Romanists) always go in jeopardy, for refusing to go to hear it? Nay,
if it must be translated into English, Catholics 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 S. Jerome, "Damnamus veteres? Mineme, sed post
priorum studia in domo Domini quod possums laboramus." [S. Jerome.
Apolog. advers. Ruffin.] That is, "Do we condemn the ancient? In no
case: but after the endeavors 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 men 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 laboured in them in vain, and lest I should be thought
to glory in men, (although ancient,) above that which was in them. Thus
S. Jerome 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 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: [S. Epiphan. loco ante citato.] and as
S. Augustine saith; "A man had rather be with his dog than with a
stranger (whose tongue is strange unto him)." [S. Augustin. lib. 19. de
civil. Dei. c. 7.] 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
Abienzer, 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 accurately done,
as Saint Jerome witnesseth. [S. Jerome. in Ezech. cap. 3.] 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,)
[Tertul. ad Martyr.] if a toy of glass be of that reckoning with us,
how ought we to value the true pearl? [Jerome. ad Salvin.] 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 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 uttereth 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, everywhere. 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, etc.
[Horace.] 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) [James 3:2] 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 Apostolic
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 slightly and convenient; [Plutarch in
Camillo.] 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) [Ezra 3:12] 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 Saint Jerome and most learned men do confess) which
they would not have done, nor by their example of using it, so grace
and commend it to the Church, if it had been unworthy of 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 heretics
(forsooth) were the Authors of the translations, (heretics they call us
by the same right that they call themselves Catholics, 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?
[Tertul. de praescript. contra haereses.] Do we try men's faith by
their persons? we should try their persons by their faith. Also S.
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 S. Augustine's third book De doctrina
Christiana. [S. August. 3. de doct. Christ. cap. 30.] 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 heretics, that they joined 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 Translations so oft; wherein
truly they deal hardly, and strangely with us. For to whomever 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? Saint Augustine was not
afraid to exhort S. Jerome to a Palinodia or recantation; [S. Aug.
Epist. 9.] and doth even glory that he seeth his infirmities. [S. Aug.
Epist. 8.] If we 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 hindrance 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 S. Ambrose (Officium Ambrosianum) was a great while in special use
and request; but Pope Hadrian calling a Council with the aid of Charles
the Emperor, abolished it, yea, burnt it, and commanded the Service
book of Saint Gregory universally to be used. [Durand. lib. 5. cap. 2.]
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, the other in another) as is to be seen in Pamelius a Romanist,
his Preface, before Micrologus. the same Pamelius reporteth out
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 name Radulphus happened to be at Rome, he
found all the books to be new, (of the new stamp). Neither were there
this chopping and changing in the more ancient times only, but also of
late: Pius Quintus himself confesseth, that every Bishopric 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 maior parcas
insane minori: they that are less sound themselves, out not to object
infirmities to others. [Horat.] 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 S. Paul was to the Galatians, for telling them the
truth [Gal 4:16]: 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' Translation of the New Testament,
so much different from the vulgar, by his Apostolic Letter and Bull;
that the same Leo exhorted Pagnine to translate the whole Bible, and
bare whatsoever charges was necessary for the work? [Sixtus Senens.]
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: [Heb 7:11 and 8:7] 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
Inquisitors, Hieronymus ab Oleastro, and their own Bishop Isidorus
Clarius, and their own Cardinal Thomas a Vio Caietan, 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 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 Lovaine,
and Hentenius his from them both, and yet all of them allowed by
authority? Nay, doth not Sixtus Quintus confess, that certain Catholics
(he meaneth certain of his own side) were in such an humor 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, etc.? [Sixtus 5. praefat. fixa Bibliis.] 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
authentic, 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 authentic by all means.
What is to have the faith of our glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST with Yea or
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 of the Grecians, to compose his domestic
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, ETC.

But it is high time to leave them, and to show 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 endeavor, 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 [NOTE: Greek letters
omitted] 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 [NOTE: Greek letters omitted] to learn and
practice together, is neither commendable for the workman, nor safe for
the work. [Idem in Apologet.] Therefore such were thought upon, as
could say modestly with Saint Jerome, Et Hebreaeum Sermonem ex parte
didicimus, et in Latino pene ab ipsis incunabulis etc. detriti sumus.
"Both we have learned the Hebrew tongue in part, and in the Latin we
have been exercised almost from our very cradle." S. Jerome 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 S. Augustine did; "O let thy Scriptures
be my pure delight, let me not be deceived in them, neither let me
deceive by them." [S. Aug. lib. II. Confess. cap. 2.] 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, where-through the olive
branches empty themselves into the gold. Saint Augustine calleth them
precedent, or original tongues; [S. August. 3. de doctr. c. 3. etc.]
Saint Jerome, fountains. [S. Jerome. ad Suniam et Fretel.] The same
Saint Jerome affirmeth, [S. Jerome. ad Lucinium, Dist. 9 ut veterum.]
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 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 the 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 72 days; [Joseph. Antiq.
lib. 12.] neither were we barred or hindered from going over it again,
having once done it, like S. Jerome, if that be true which himself
reporteth, that he could no sooner write anything, but presently it was
caught from him, and published, and he could not have leave to mend it:
[S. Jerome. ad Pammac. pro libr. advers. Iovinian.] 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, [Sophoc. in Elect.]
and therefore no marvel, if he overshot himself many times. None of
these things: the work hath not been huddled up in 72 days, but hath
cost the workmen, as 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 movement a man
feareth not the blame of convenient slackness. [S. Chrysost. in II.
Thess. cap. 2.] 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 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 sound in this point. For though,
"whatsoever things are necessary are manifest," as S. Chrysostom saith,
[S. Chrysost. in II. Thess. cap. 2.] and as S. Augustine, "In those
things that are plainly set down in the Scriptures, all such matters
are found that concern Faith, Hope, and Charity. [S. Aug. 2. de doctr.
Christ. cap. 9.] Yet for all that it cannot be dissembled, that partly
to exercise and whet our wits, partly to wean the curious from the
loathing of them for their everywhere 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 upon modesty with S. Augustine, (though not in this same case
altogether, yet upon the same ground) Melius est debitare de occultis,
quam litigare de incertis, [S. Aug li. S. de Genes. ad liter. cap. 5.]
"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 or neighbor, 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, etc. concerning 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 S.
Jerome 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 S. Augustine saith, that variety of
Translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the
Scriptures: [S. Aug. 2. De doctr. Christian. cap. 14.] so diversity of
signification and sense in the margin, where the text is no 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, [Sixtus 5. praef.
Bibliae.] (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 favorers, 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, [Plat. in Paulo secundo.] 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 things 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
that same in both places (for there be some words that be not the same
sense everywhere) 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 TRAVELING; if one where THINK, never SUPPOSE; if one
where PAIN, never ACHE; if one where JOY, never GLADNESS, etc. 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 to become words or
syllables? why should we be in bondage to them 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 showed himself greatly moved, that
one of newfangledness called [NOTE: Greek omitted but was a dispute
over the word for "a bed"] [Niceph. Calist. lib.8. cap.42.] 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". [S. Jerome in 4. Ionae. See S. Aug: epist. 10.]
Now if this happens 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 forever, we might be taxed peradventure with S. 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: [see Euseb. li. 12. ex Platon.] 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 AZIMES, TUNIKE, RATIONAL, HOLOCAUSTS, PRAEPUCE,
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 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. [Gen 26:15. Jer 2:13.] 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
coast [Matt 8:34]; neither yet with Esau sell your birthright for a
mess of pottage [Heb 12:16]. 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 S. Chrysostom,
"It is altogether impossible, that he that is sober" (and watchful)
"should at any time be neglected:" [S. Chrysost. in epist. ad Rom. cap.
14. oral. 26.] Lastly, the admonition and menacing of S. Augustine,
"They that despise God's will inviting them, shall feel God's will
taking vengeance of them." [S. August. ad artic. sibi falso object.
Artic. 16.] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God; [Heb 10:31] 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.
__________________________________________________________________

Old Testament
__________________________________________________________________

The First Book of Moses, called

Genesis
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 1

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

^2And 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.

^3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

^4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light
from the darkness.

^5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And
the evening and the morning were the first day.

^6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters.

^7And 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.

^8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning
were the second day.

^9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together
unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

^10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the
waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

^11And 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.

^12And 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.

^13And the evening and the morning were the third day.

^14And 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:

^15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give
light upon the earth: and it was so.

^16And 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.

^17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth,

^18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light
from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

^19And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

^20And 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.

^21And 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.

^22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill
the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

^23And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

^24And 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.

^25And 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.

^26And 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.

^27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them.

^28And 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.

^29And 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.

^30And 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.

^31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very
good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 2

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

^2And 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.

^3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in
it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

^4These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they
were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the
heavens,

^5And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every
herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to
rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

^6But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face
of the ground.

^7And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

^8And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put
the man whom he had formed.

^9And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is
pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the
midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

^10And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it
was parted, and became into four heads.

^11The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the

whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;

^12And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx
stone.

^13And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that
compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.

^14And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth
toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.

^15And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden
to dress it and to keep it.

^16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the
garden thou mayest freely eat:

^17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not
eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely
die.
^18And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him.

^19And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field,
and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he
would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that
was the name thereof.

^20And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and
to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help
meet for him.

^21And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he
slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead
thereof;

^22And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman,
and brought her unto the man.

^23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:
she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

^24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall
cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

^25And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 3

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the
Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye
shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

^2And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the
trees of the garden:

^3But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God
hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye
die.

^4And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

^5For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes
shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

^6And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it
was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise,
she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat.

^7And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were
naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

^8And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the
cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence
of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.
^9And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

^10And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid,
because I was naked; and I hid myself.

^11And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of
the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

^12And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave
me of the tree, and I did eat.

^13And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast
done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

^14And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this,
thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field;
upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of
thy life:

^15And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy
seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his
heel.

^16Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy
conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire
shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

^17And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of
thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee,
saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in
sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

^18Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou
shalt eat the herb of the field;

^19In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto
the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto
dust shalt thou return.

^20And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of
all living.

^21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins,
and clothed them.

^22And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to
know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also
of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

^23Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to
till the ground from whence he was taken.

^24So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of
Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the
way of the tree of life.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 4
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said,
I have gotten a man from the Lord.

^2And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep,
but Cain was a tiller of the ground.

^3And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the

fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

^4And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the
fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

^5But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was
very wroth, and his countenance fell.

^6And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy
countenance fallen?

^7If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not
well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and
thou shalt rule over him.

^8And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew
him.

^9And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said,
I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

^10And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood
crieth unto me from the ground.

^11And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth
to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;

^12When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto
thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the
earth.

^13And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can
bear.

^14Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth;
and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a
vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that
findeth me shall slay me.

^15And the Lord said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon
Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

^16And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the
land of Nod, on the east of Eden.

^17And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he
builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his
son, Enoch.

^18And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael
begat Methusael: and Methusael begat Lamech.

^19And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah,
and the name of the other Zillah.

^20And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents,
and of such as have cattle.

^21And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as
handle the harp and organ.

^22And Zillah, she also bare Tubal- cain, an instructer of every

artificer in brass and iron: and the sister of Tubalcain was Naamah.

^23And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye
wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my
wounding, and a young man to my hurt.

^24If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and

sevenfold.

^25And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his
name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of
Abel, whom Cain slew.

^26And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his
name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 5

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God
created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

^2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their
name Adam, in the day when they were created.

^3And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his
own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

^4And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred
years: and he begat sons and daughters:

^5And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years:
and he died.

^6And Seth lived an hundred and five years, and begat Enos:

^7And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hundred and seven years, and
begat sons and daughters:

^8And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he
died.

^9And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan:

^10And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen
years, and begat sons and daughters:
^11And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he
died.

^12And Cainan lived seventy years, and begat Mahalaleel:

^13And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel eight hundred and forty
years, and begat sons and daughters:

^14And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he
died.

^15And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared:

^16And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty
years, and begat sons and daughters:

^17And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five
years: and he died.

^18And Jared lived an hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch:

^19And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat
sons and daughters:

^20And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and
he died.

^21And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

^22And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred
years, and begat sons and daughters:

^23And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

^24And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

^25And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat
Lamech:

^26And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and
two years, and begat sons and daughters:

^27And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine
years: and he died.

^28And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son:

^29And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us
concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which
the Lord hath cursed.

^30And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five
years, and begat sons and daughters:

^31And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven
years: and he died.

^32And Noah was five hundred years old: and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and
Japheth.
 __________________________________________________________________

Chapter 6

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the
earth, and daughters were born unto them,

^2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair;
and they took them wives of all which they chose.

^3And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for
that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty
years.

^4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that,
when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare
children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of
renown.

^5And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and
that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil
continually.

^6And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it
grieved him at his heart.

^7And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the
fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

^8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

^9These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in
his generations, and Noah walked with God.

^10And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

^11The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.

^12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all
flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

^13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for
the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will
destroy them with the earth.

^14Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark,
and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

^15And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of
the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits,
and the height of it thirty cubits.

^16A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou
finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side
thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

^17And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth,

to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven;
and every thing that is in the earth shall die.

^18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into
the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with
thee.

^19And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou
bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male
and female.

^20Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every
creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall
come unto thee, to keep them alive.

^21And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt
gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.

^22Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 7

And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark;
for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

^2Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and
his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his
female.

^3Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female; to keep
seed alive upon the face of all the earth.

^4For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty
days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will
I destroy from off the face of the earth.

^5And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.

^6And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon
the earth.

^7And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives
with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

^8Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and
of every thing that creepeth upon the earth,

^9There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the
female, as God had commanded Noah.

^10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood
were upon the earth.

^11In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the
seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of
the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

^12And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.
^13In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth,
the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with
them, into the ark;

^14They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their
kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his
kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every sort.

^15And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh,
wherein is the breath of life.

^16And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God
had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

^17And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters
increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

^18And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth;
and the ark went upon the face of the waters.

^19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the
high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered.

^20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were
covered.

^21And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of
cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon
the earth, and every man:

^22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the
dry land, died.

^23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of
the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl
of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only
remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

^24And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 8

And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle
that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the
earth, and the waters asswaged;

^2The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were
stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

^3And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the
end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.

^4And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of
the month, upon the mountains of Ararat.

^5And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the
tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the
mountains seen.

^6And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the
window of the ark which he had made:

^7And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to and fro, until the
waters were dried up from off the earth.

^8Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated
from off the face of the ground;

^9But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned
unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole
earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto
him into the ark.

^10And he stayed yet other seven days; and again he sent forth the dove
out of the ark;

^11And the dove came in to him in the evening; and, lo, in her mouth
was an olive leaf pluckt off: so Noah knew that the waters were abated
from off the earth.

^12And he stayed yet other seven days; and sent forth the dove; which
returned not again unto him any more.

^13And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the
first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from
off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked,
and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.

^14And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the
month, was the earth dried.

^15And God spake unto Noah, saying,

^16Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons'
wives with thee.

^17Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all
flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundantly in the earth,
and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth.

^18And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives
with him:

^19Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever
creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark.

^20And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean
beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the
altar.

^21And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart,
I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the
imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again
smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
^22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat,
and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 9

And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth.

^2And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of
the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon
the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they
delivered.

^3Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the
green herb have I given you all things.

^4But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye
not eat.

^5And surely your blood of your lives will I require; 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 I require the life of man.

^6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in
the image of God made he man.

^7And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the

earth, and multiply therein.

^8And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying,

^9And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed
after you;

^10And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the
cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out
of the ark, to every beast of the earth.

^11And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh
be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any
more be a flood to destroy the earth.

^12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between
me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual
generations:

^13I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a

covenant between me and the earth.

^14And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that
the bow shall be seen in the cloud:

^15And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and

every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become
a flood to destroy all flesh.

^16And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I
may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living
creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

^17And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I
have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.

^18And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and
Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan.

^19These are the three sons of Noah: and of them was the whole earth
overspread.

^20And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard:

^21And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered
within his tent.

^22And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and
told his two brethren without.

^23And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their
shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their
father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's
nakedness.

^24And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done
unto him.

^25And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be

unto his brethren.

^26And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be
his servant.

^27God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem;
and Canaan shall be his servant.

^28And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

^29And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he
died.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 10

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

^2The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and
Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

^3And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

^4And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

^5By these were the isles of the Gentiles divided in their lands; every
one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations.

^6And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan.
^7And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and
Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

^8And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth.

^9He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as
Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.

^10And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad,
and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

^11Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the
city Rehoboth, and Calah,

^12And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

^13And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

^14And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and

Caphtorim.

^15And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,

^16And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,

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

^18And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward
were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.

^19And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to
Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah,
and Zeboim, even unto Lasha.

^20These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their
tongues, in their countries, and in their nations.

^21Unto Shem also, the father of all the children of Eber, the brother
of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born.

^22The children of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and
Aram.

^23And the children of Aram; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash.

^24And Arphaxad begat Salah; and Salah begat Eber.

^25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in
his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

^26And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,

^27And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah,

^28And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,

^29And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of
Joktan.
^30And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar a mount
of the east.

^31These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their
tongues, in their lands, after their nations.

^32These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations,
in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth
after the flood.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 11

And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.

^2And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found
a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

^3And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them
throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

^4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top
may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered
abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

^5And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the
children of men builded.

^6And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one
language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained
from them, which they have imagined to do.

^7Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they
may not understand one another's speech.

^8So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all
the earth: and they left off to build the city.

^9Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there
confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord
scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

^10These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old,
and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:

^11And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat
sons and daughters.

^12And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah:

^13And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three
years, and begat sons and daughters.

^14And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber:

^15And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years,
and begat sons and daughters.

^16And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg:
^17And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years,
and begat sons and daughters.

^18And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

^19And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and
begat sons and daughters.

^20And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug:

^21And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and
begat sons and daughters.

^22And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor:

^23And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat
sons and daughters.

^24And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah:

^25And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years,
and begat sons and daughters.

^26And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

^27Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor,
and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.

^28And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity,
in Ur of the Chaldees.

^29And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was
Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the
father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah.

^30But Sarai was barren; she had no child.

^31And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's
son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went
forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan;
and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

^32And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah
died in Haran.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 12

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from
thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew
thee:

^2And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and
make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

^3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth
thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
^4So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with
him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of
Haran.

^5And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all
their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had
gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and
into the land of Canaan they came.

^6And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the
plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

^7And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give
this land: and there builded he an altar unto the Lord, who appeared
unto him.

^8And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and
pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and
there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of
the Lord.

^9And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

^10And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt
to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

^11And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that
he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair
woman to look upon:

^12Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee,
that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they
will save thee alive.

^13Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me
for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.

^14And it came to pass, that, when Abram was come into Egypt, the
Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair.

^15The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before
Pharaoh: and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.

^16And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and
oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses,
and camels.

^17And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues
because of Sarai Abram's wife.

^18And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done
unto me? why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?

^19Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me

to wife: now therefore behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way.

^20And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him: and they sent him
away, and his wife, and all that he had.
__________________________________________________________________
 Chapter 13

And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had,
and Lot with him, into the south.

^2And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

^3And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the
place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai;

^4Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first:
and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.

^5And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and
tents.

^6And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell
together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell
together.

^7And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the
herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled
then in the land.

^8And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between
me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be
brethren.

^9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee,
from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right;
or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

^10And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that
it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and
Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as
thou comest unto Zoar.

^11Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east:
and they separated themselves the one from the other.

^12Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities
of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.

^13But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord
exceedingly.

^14And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him,
Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art
northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:

^15For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to
thy seed for ever.

^16And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man
can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

^17Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth
of it; for I will give it unto thee.
^18Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of
Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 14

And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king
of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations;

^2That these made war with Bera king of Sodom, and with Birsha king of
Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the
king of Bela, which is Zoar.

^3All these were joined together in the vale of Siddim, which is the
salt sea.

^4Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year

they rebelled.

^5And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were
with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims
in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim,

^6And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto Elparan, which is by the
wilderness.

^7And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote
all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in
Hazezontamar.

^8And there went out the king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and
the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the
same is Zoar;) and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim;

^9With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations,
and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings
with five.

^10And the vale of Siddim was full of slimepits; and the kings of Sodom
and Gomorrah fled, and fell there; and they that remained fled to the
mountain.

^11And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their
victuals, and went their way.

^12And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and
his goods, and departed.

^13And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for
he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and
brother of Aner: and these were confederate with Abram.

^14And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed
his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and
eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.

^15And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night,

and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand
of Damascus.

^16And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his
brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

^17And the king of Sodom went out to meet him after his return from the
slaughter of Chedorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the
valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.

^18And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he
was the priest of the most high God.

^19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God,
possessor of heaven and earth:

^20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies
into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

^21And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take
the goods to thyself.

^22And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto
the Lord, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth,

^23That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I
will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have
made Abram rich:

^24Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of
the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take
their portion.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 15

After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision,
saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great
reward.

^2And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go
childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

^3And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one
born in my house is mine heir.

^4And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall
not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels
shall be thine heir.

^5And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven,
and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto
him, So shall thy seed be.

^6And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for

righteousness.

^7And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of
the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.
^8And he said, Lord GOD, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?

^9And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she
goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a
turtledove, and a young pigeon.

^10And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and
laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.

^11And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them
away.

^12And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and,
lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

^13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a
stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they
shall afflict them four hundred years;

^14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and
afterward shall they come out with great substance.

^15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a

good old age.

^16But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the
iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

^17And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark,
behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those
pieces.

^18In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto
thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great
river, the river Euphrates:

^19The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

^20And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

^21And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the
Jebusites.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 16

Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid,
an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.

^2And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me
from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may
obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

^3And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram
had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband
Abram to be his wife.

^4And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that
she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
^5And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my
maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was
despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

^6But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand; do to her
as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai dealt hardly with her, she fled
from her face.

^7And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the
wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.

^8And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and whither
wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.

^9And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and
submit thyself under her hands.

^10And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed
exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

^11And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with
child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because
the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

^12And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and
every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all
his brethren.

^13And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God
seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth
me?

^14Wherefore the well was called Beerlahairoi; behold, it is between

Kadesh and Bered.

^15And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which
Hagar bare, Ishmael.

^16And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael
to Abram.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 17

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to
Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be
thou perfect.

^2And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply
thee exceedingly.

^3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying,

^4As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a
father of many nations.

^5Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall
be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.
^6And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of
thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

^7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed
after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a
God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

^8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land
wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God.

^9And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore,
thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

^10This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy
seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

^11And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be

a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.

^12And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every
man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought
with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed.

^13He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money,
must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for
an everlasting covenant.

^14And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not
circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken
my covenant.

^15And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not
call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.

^16And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will
bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall
be of her.

^17Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart,
Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall
Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

^18And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!

^19And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou
shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him
for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.

^20And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him,
and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve
princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

^21But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear
unto thee at this set time in the next year.

^22And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
^23And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his
house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the
men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in
the selfsame day, as God had said unto him.

^24And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised
in the flesh of his foreskin.

^25And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised
in the flesh of his foreskin.

^26In the selfsame day was Abraham circumcised, and Ishmael his son.

^27And all the men of his house, born in the house, and bought with
money of the stranger, were circumcised with him.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 18

And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in
the tent door in the heat of the day;

^2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him:
and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed
himself toward the ground,

^3And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not
away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

^4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and
rest yourselves under the tree:

^5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after
that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And
they said, So do, as thou hast said.

^6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready
quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the
hearth.

^7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and
gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

^8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and
set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did
eat.

^9And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold,
in the tent.

^10And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time
of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it
in the tent door, which was behind him.

^11Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it
ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

^12Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old

shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
^13And the Lord said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying,
Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

^14Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will
return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a
son.

^15Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he
said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

^16And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and
Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

^17And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

^18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation,
and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

^19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household
after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and
judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath
spoken of him.

^20And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great,
and because their sin is very grievous;

^21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether
according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will
know.

^22And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom:
but Abraham stood yet before the Lord.

^23And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the
righteous with the wicked?

^24Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou

also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are
therein?

^25That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous
with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that
be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

^26And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the
city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

^27And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to
speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

^28Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou
destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there
forty and five, I will not destroy it.

^29And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall
be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

^30And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will
speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I
will not do it, if I find thirty there.

^31And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the
Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I
will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

^32And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but
this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will
not destroy it for ten's sake.

^33And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with
Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 19

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of
Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself
with his face toward the ground;

^2And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your
servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall
rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will
abide in the street all night.

^3And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and
entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake
unleavened bread, and they did eat.

^4But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom,
compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from
every quarter:

^5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which
came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know
them.

^6And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

^7And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

^8Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I
pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your
eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the
shadow of my roof.

^9And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came
in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse
with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even
Lot, and came near to break the door.

^10But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to
them, and shut to the door.

^11And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with
blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to
find the door.
^12And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law,
and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city,
bring them out of this place:

^13For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen
great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy
it.

^14And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his
daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will
destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in
law.

^15And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying,
Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou
be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

^16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the
hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord
being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him
without the city.

^17And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that
he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou
in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

^18And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

^19Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast
magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life;
and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

^20Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one:
Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall
live.

^21And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this
thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou
hast spoken.

^22Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be
come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

^23The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

^24Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire
from the Lord out of heaven;

^25And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the
inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

^26But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of
salt.

^27And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood
before the Lord:

^28And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of
the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the
smoke of a furnace.

^29And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain,
that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the
overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

^30And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two
daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a
cave, he and his two daughters.

^31And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and
there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of
all the earth:

^32Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him,
that we may preserve seed of our father.

^33And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn
went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay
down, nor when she arose.

^34And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the
younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him
drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we
may preserve seed of our father.

^35And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the
younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay
down, nor when she arose.

^36Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

^37And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is
the father of the Moabites unto this day.

^38And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi:
the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 20

And Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelled
between Kadesh and Shur, and sojourned in Gerar.

^2And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech
king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

^3But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,

Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken;
for she is a man's wife.

^4But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou
slay also a righteous nation?

^5Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself
said, He is my brother: in the integrity of my heart and innocency of
my hands have I done this.

^6And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in
the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning
against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

^7Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he
shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not,
know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

^8Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morning, and called all his
servants, and told all these things in their ears: and the men were
sore afraid.

^9Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done
unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me
and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought
not to be done.

^10And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast
done this thing?

^11And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not
in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake.

^12And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father,

but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

^13And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's

house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt shew
unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my
brother.

^14And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and

womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his
wife.

^15And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it

pleaseth thee.

^16And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand
pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto
all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved.

^17So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife,
and his maidservants; and they bare children.

^18For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of
Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 21

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah
as he had spoken.

^2For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the
set time of which God had spoken to him.

^3And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom
Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
^4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God
had commanded him.

^5And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born
unto him.

^6And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will
laugh with me.

^7And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should
have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

^8And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast
the same day that Isaac was weaned.

^9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto
Abraham, mocking.

^10Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her
son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even
with Isaac.

^11And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his
son.

^12And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight
because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah
hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy
seed be called.

^13And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because
he is thy seed.

^14And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a
bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder,
and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the
wilderness of Beersheba.

^15And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under
one of the shrubs.

^16And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as
it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child.
And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.

^17And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to
Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear
not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

^18Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make
him a great nation.

^19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went,
and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

^20And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness,
and became an archer.

^21And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a
wife out of the land of Egypt.

^22And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the
chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee
in all that thou doest:

^23Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal
falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according
to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and
to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.

^24And Abraham said, I will swear.

^25And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which

Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.

^26And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither
didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.

^27And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and
both of them made a covenant.

^28And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.

^29And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs
which thou hast set by themselves?

^30And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand,
that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.

^31Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware

both of them.

^32Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and
Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land
of the Philistines.

^33And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the

name of the Lord, the everlasting God.

^34And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 22

And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and
said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

^2And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou
lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a
burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

^3And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and
took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the
wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of
which God had told him.

^4Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place
afar off.
^5And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and
I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

^6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon
Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they
went both of them together.

^7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he
said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but
where is the lamb for a burnt offering?

^8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt
offering: so they went both of them together.

^9And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham
built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his
son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

^10And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his
son.

^11And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said,
Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

^12And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any
thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

^13And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a
ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

^14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is

said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.

^15And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the
second time,

^16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou
hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

^17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will

multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is
upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

^18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
because thou hast obeyed my voice.

^19So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went
together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

^20And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham,
saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother
Nahor;

^21Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of
Aram,
^22And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

^23And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor,
Abraham's brother.

^24And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and
Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 23

And Sarah was an hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the
years of the life of Sarah.

^2And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of

Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

^3And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of
Heth, saying,

^4I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a

buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

^5And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him,

^6Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of
our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his
sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead.

^7And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land,
even to the children of Heth.

^8And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should

bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the
son of Zohar,

^9That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in

the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it
me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you.

^10And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all
that went in at the gate of his city, saying,

^11Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is
therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give
I it thee: bury thy dead.

^12And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.

^13And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land,
saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give
thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.

^14And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,

^15My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of
silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
^16And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the
silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four
hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

^17And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before
Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees
that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were
made sure

^18Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of

Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city.

^19And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the
field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of
Canaan.

^20And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto
Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 24

And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord had blessed
Abraham in all things.

^2And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled
over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:

^3And I will make thee swear by the Lord, the God of heaven, and the
God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

^4But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife
unto my son Isaac.

^5And the servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be
willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again
unto the land from whence thou camest?

^6And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou that thou bring not my son
thither again.

^7The Lord God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and
from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware
unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land; he shall send his
angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.

^8And if the woman will not be willing to follow thee, then thou shalt
be clear from this my oath: only bring not my son thither again.

^9And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master,
and sware to him concerning that matter.

^10And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and
departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he
arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.

^11And he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of
water at the time of the evening, even the time that women go out to
draw water.

^12And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me

good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

^13Behold, I stand here by the well of water; and the daughters of the
men of the city come out to draw water:

^14And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let
down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say,
Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that
thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know
that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

^15And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that, behold,

Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of
Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder.

^16And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any
man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher,
and came up.

^17And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let me, I pray thee,
drink a little water of thy pitcher.

^18And she said, Drink, my lord: and she hasted, and let down her
pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink.

^19And when she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water
for thy camels also, until they have done drinking.

^20And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran
again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.

^21And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the Lord
had made his journey prosperous or not.

^22And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man
took a golden earring of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets for
her hands of ten shekels weight of gold;

^23And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there
room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?

^24And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of
Milcah, which she bare unto Nahor.

^25She said moreover unto him, We have both straw and provender enough,
and room to lodge in.

^26And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.

^27And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath
not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the
way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren.

^28And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these
things.
^29And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban: and Laban ran out
unto the man, unto the well.

^30And it came to pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his
sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister,
saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he came unto the man; and,
behold, he stood by the camels at the well.

^31And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest
thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.

^32And the man came into the house: and he ungirded his camels, and
gave straw and provender for the camels, and water to wash his feet,
and the men's feet that were with him.

^33And there was set meat before him to eat: but he said, I will not
eat, until I have told mine errand. And he said, Speak on.

^34And he said, I am Abraham's servant.

^35And the Lord hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great:
and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and
menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses.

^36And Sarah my master's wife bare a son to my master when she was old:
and unto him hath he given all that he hath.

^37And my master made me swear, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to
my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell:

^38But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and

take a wife unto my son.

^39And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow
me.

^40And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom I walk, will send his
angel with thee, and prosper thy way; and thou shalt take a wife for my
son of my kindred, and of my father's house:

^41Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my
kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my
oath.

^42And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master
Abraham, if now thou do prosper my way which I go:

^43Behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass,

that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give
me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink;

^44And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy
camels: let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for
my master's son.

^45And before I had done speaking in mine heart, behold, Rebekah came
forth with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down unto the
well, and drew water: and I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee.
^46And she made haste, and let down her pitcher from her shoulder, and
said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she
made the camels drink also.

^47And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said,
The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I
put the earring upon her face, and the bracelets upon her hands.

^48And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the Lord, and blessed the
Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to
take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.

^49And now if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me:
and if not, tell me; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left.

^50Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from
the Lord: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

^51Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy
master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken.

^52And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words,
he worshipped the Lord, bowing himself to the earth.

^53And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold,
and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and
to her mother precious things.

^54And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and
tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send
me away unto my master.

^55And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us a
few days, at the least ten; after that she shall go.

^56And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered
my way; send me away that I may go to my master.

^57And they said, We will call the damsel, and enquire at her mouth.

^58And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this
man? And she said, I will go.

^59And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse, and
Abraham's servant, and his men.

^60And they blessed Rebekah, and said unto her, Thou art our sister, be
thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the
gate of those which hate them.

^61And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels,
and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

^62And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in
the south country.

^63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he
lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.
^64And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted
off the camel.

^65For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in
the field to meet us? And the servant had said, It is my master:
therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

^66And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.

^67And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took
Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was
comforted after his mother's death.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 25

Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.

^2And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and
Ishbak, and Shuah.

^3And Jokshan begat Sheba, and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were
Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim.

^4And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and
Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

^5And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac.

^6But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave
gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived,
eastward, unto the east country.

^7And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived,
an hundred threescore and fifteen years.

^8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old
man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

^9And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah,
in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before
Mamre;

^10The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was
Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.

^11And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his
son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahairoi.

^12Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar
the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:

^13And these are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names,
according to their generations: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and
Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,

^14And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa,

^15Hadar, and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah:

^16These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their
towns, and by their castles; twelve princes according to their nations.

^17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and
thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was
gathered unto his people.

^18And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is before Egypt, as thou
goest toward Assyria: and he died in the presence of all his brethren.

^19And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat
Isaac:

^20And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the
daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the
Syrian.

^21And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren:
and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

^22And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it
be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

^23And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two
manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people
shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the
younger.

^24And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were
twins in her womb.

^25And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they
called his name Esau.

^26And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on
Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore
years old when she bare them.

^27And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the
field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

^28And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah
loved Jacob.

^29And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was
faint:

^30And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red
pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

^31And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

^32And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit
shall this birthright do to me?

^33And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he
sold his birthright unto Jacob.
^34Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat
and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his
birthright.
__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 26

And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in
the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the
Philistines unto Gerar.

^2And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt;
dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:

^3Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee;
for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and
I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;

^4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will
give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed;

^5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my

commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

^6And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:

^7And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is
my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men
of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look
upon.

^8And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that
Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and,
behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

^9And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy
wife: and how saidst thou, She is my sister? And Isaac said unto him,
Because I said, Lest I die for her.

^10And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the
people might lightly have lien with thy wife, and thou shouldest have
brought guiltiness upon us.

^11And Abimelech charged all his people, saying, He that toucheth this
man or his wife shall surely be put to death.

^12Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an
hundredfold: and the Lord blessed him.

^13And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became
very great:

^14For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great

store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.

^15For all the wells which his father's servants had digged in the days
of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled
them with earth.
^16And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much
mightier than we.

^17And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of
Gerar, and dwelt there.

^18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in
the days of Abraham his father; for the philistines had stopped them
after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names
by which his father had called them.

^19And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of
springing water.

^20And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying,
The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because
they strove with him.

^21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he
called the name of it Sitnah.

^22And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that
they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said,
For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the
land.

^23And he went up from thence to Beersheba.

^24And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the
God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless
thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake.

^25And he builded an altar there, and called upon the name of the Lord,
and pitched his tent there: and there Isaac's servants digged a well.

^26Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his
friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.

^27And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate
me, and have sent me away from you?

^28And they said, We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee: and we
said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee,
and let us make a covenant with thee;

^29That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we

have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace:
thou art now the blessed of the Lord.

^30And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink.

^31And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another:
and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace.

^32And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and
told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him,
We have found water.
^33And he called it Shebah: therefore the name of the city is Beersheba
unto this day.

^34And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the
daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the
Hittite:

^35Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

__________________________________________________________________

Chapter 27

And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so
that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto
him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I.

^2And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death:

^3Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow,
and go out to the field, and take me some venison;

^4And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I
may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.

^5And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to
the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

^6And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy
father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying,

^7Bring me venison, and make me savoury meat, that I may eat, and bless
thee before the Lord before my death.

^8Now therefore, my son, obey my voice according to that which I

command thee.

^9Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the
goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he
loveth:

^10And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he
may bless thee before his death.

^11And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Behold, Esau my brother is a

hairy man, and I am a smooth man:

^12My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a
deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.

^13And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only
obey my voice, and go fetch me them.

^14And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother: and his
mother made savoury meat, such as his father loved.

^15And Rebekah took goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were
with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son:

^16And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and
upon the smooth of his neck:

^17And she gave the savoury meat and the bread, which she had prepared,
into the hand of her son Jacob.

^18And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here
am I; who art thou, my son?

^19And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done
according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my
venison, that thy soul may bless me.

^20And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so
quickly, my son? And he said, Because the Lord thy God brought it to
me.

^21And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel
thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not.

^22And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and
said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.

^23And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his
brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.

^24And he said, Art thou my very son Esau? And he said, I am.

^25And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's

venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him,
and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank.

^26And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my
son.

^27And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his
raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the
smell of a field which the Lord hath blessed:

^28Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the
earth, and plenty of corn and wine:

^29Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over
thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be
every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.

^30And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing

Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his
father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.

^31And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father,
and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's
venison, that thy soul may bless me.

^32And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am
thy son, thy firstborn Esau.

^33And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that
hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before
thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
^34And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great
and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me
also, O my father.

^35And he said, Thy brother came with subtilty, and hath taken away thy
blessing.

^36And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted

me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he
hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a
blessing for me?

^37And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy
lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with
corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee,
my son?

^38And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my
father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his
voice, and wept.

^39And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy
dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven
from above;

^40And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and
it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou
shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.

^41And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father
blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my
father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

^42And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she
sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy
brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill
thee.

^43Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban
my brother to Haran;

^44And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;

^45Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that
which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from
thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?

^46And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the

daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such
as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my
life do me?
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Chapter 28

And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto
him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan.
^2Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father;
and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's
brother.

^3And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply
thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;

^4And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with
thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger,
which God gave unto Abraham.

^5And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son
of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's
mother.

^6When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to
Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him
he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the
daughters of Canaan;

^7And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to
Padanaram;

^8And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his
father;

^9Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had
Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth,
to be his wife.

^10And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.

^11And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night,
because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and
put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

^12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top
of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and
descending on it.

^13And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of
Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest,
to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

^14And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt
spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to
the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the
earth be blessed.

^15And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places
whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I
will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee
of.

^16And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is
in this place; and I knew it not.

^17And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is
none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
^18And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he
had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil
upon the top of it.

^19And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that
city was called Luz at the first.

^20And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep
me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to
put on,

^21So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the
Lord be my God:

^22And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house:
and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto
thee.
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Chapter 29

Then