It will be seen that in the Psalms and in other prayers addressed to God, the archaic second person singular pronouns (thee, thou, thine) and verb forms (art, hast, hadst) are no longer used. Although some readers may regret this change, it should be pointed out that in the original languages neither the Old Testament nor the New makes any linguistic distinction between addressing a human being and addressing the Deity. Furthermore, in the tradition of the King James Version one will not expect to find the use of capital letters for pronouns that refer to the Deity—such capitalization is an unnecessary innovation that has only recently been introduced into a few English translations of the Bible. Finally, we have left to the discretion of the licensed publishers such matters as section headings, cross-references, and clues to the pronunciation of proper names.
This new version seeks to preserve all that is best in the English Bible as it has been known and used through the years. It is intended for use in public reading and congregational worship, as well as in private study, instruction, and meditation. We have resisted the temptation to introduce terms and phrases that merely reflect current moods, and have tried to put the message of the Scriptures in simple, enduring words and expressions that are worthy to stand in the great tradition of the King James Bible and its predecessors.
In traditional Judaism and Christianity, the Bible has been more than a historical document to be preserved or a classic of literature to be cherished and admired; it is recognized as the unique record of God’s dealings with people over the ages. The Old Testament sets forth the call of a special people to enter into covenant relation with the God of justice and steadfast love and to bring God’s law to the nations. The New Testament records the life and work of Jesus Christ, the one in whom “the Word became flesh,” as well as describes the rise and spread of the early Christian Church. The Bible carries its full message, not to those who regard it simply as a noble literary heritage of the past or who wish to use it to enhance political purposes and advance otherwise desirable goals, but to all persons and communities who read it so that they may discern and understand what God is saying to them. That message must not be disguised in phrases that are no longer clear, or hidden under words that have changed or lost their meaning; it must be presented in language that is direct and plain and meaningful to people today. It is the hope and prayer of the translators that this version of the Bible may continue to hold a large place in congregational life and to speak to all readers, young and old alike, helping them to understand and believe and respond to its message.
For the Committee,
BRUCE M. METZGER
OLD (#ulink_7a9f88a3-1b8c-5ae7-ade7-cddedf25f527)
TESTAMENT (#ulink_7a9f88a3-1b8c-5ae7-ade7-cddedf25f527)
GENESIS (#ulink_003847c4-14f8-5eb5-af62-74cf9a8c9361)
Chapter 1 (#ulink_4c5a705a-9be5-5dc3-91f6-a338c9c85d42)
Chapter 2 (#ulink_47f33c03-e80c-5e29-a1f9-ccb9a27b3d08)
Chapter 3 (#ulink_aee7cdf3-97af-5b88-badd-27ab5d214d8c)
Chapter 4 (#ulink_8f0c9ee0-82ac-5d28-8f04-170c46e0d734)
Chapter 5 (#ulink_8f31b5d2-292c-52ec-a6ae-8e8800791c9c)
Chapter 6 (#ulink_003ff7fd-2c67-5a0e-8b45-b6d4b1f22e2b)
Chapter 7 (#ulink_8695fd17-1969-5741-98ae-dbba8bf12eb8)
Chapter 8 (#ulink_a22d2336-ca7f-5b56-83e2-c9a3c6122f92)
Chapter 9 (#ulink_47a83380-920a-5e86-a13c-dbd67aa083e5)
Chapter 10 (#ulink_d24e18c0-36b9-5678-8610-2966b22fa5df)
Chapter 11 (#ulink_a7f76ff7-b403-5f43-9702-738c8fc6f423)
Chapter 12 (#ulink_8d903405-dd7f-5fe3-a855-85ba2aeffeda)
Chapter 13 (#ulink_7be15bb8-80f7-5e04-a5b0-8fe8c5b330cf)
Chapter 14 (#ulink_4ef9080a-ab0b-532b-a0a5-9264e7fbe640)
Chapter 15 (#ulink_1764c9c0-b8f1-559a-ac5e-fc7fcf7bc63e)
Chapter 16 (#ulink_ae329290-643a-5f4b-b2c9-13bf4e2c8ff1)
Chapter 17 (#ulink_7e118eb7-20d7-5b12-b72a-cb897f46e14c)
Chapter 18 (#ulink_17db1e0b-bd62-5a8b-9986-41bed241c8ff)
Chapter 19 (#ulink_480cc531-2c41-5030-9899-f744b8408685)
Chapter 20 (#ulink_47ea6213-d0fd-52e4-8f63-f7b2f64077eb)
Chapter 21 (#ulink_c67ed6cc-d4bc-5482-afc7-e95cd4b12415)
Chapter 22 (#ulink_5b4aaa5b-9cb9-51c7-8b0b-63085b7e1871)
Chapter 23 (#ulink_93a8432d-da94-55c7-848d-e53b6d9e45b4)
Chapter 24 (#ulink_d2cd67ae-871b-5c80-bb66-dca0b4decb1d)
Chapter 25 (#ulink_d0a34d86-f5a1-5f79-bba6-58e42b67721e)
Chapter 26 (#ulink_785b9a4e-1347-52bc-80d8-21da88477d89)
Chapter 27 (#ulink_468656c4-0d11-5509-b6ce-c83474facdd8)
Chapter 28 (#ulink_6333cf98-f5d9-560d-b097-f788384cd928)
Chapter 29 (#ulink_50819d77-4424-5169-924d-844298598638)
Chapter 30 (#ulink_e505866d-b0d6-51f2-8ec4-b746164e35cf)
Chapter 31 (#ulink_5ae6cfd3-5fd7-5d00-8fb6-22056d5a16fd)
Chapter 32 (#ulink_3013e280-2ab4-564b-b9d5-37e0a0e8495e)
Chapter 33 (#ulink_1fa73a7b-53f1-5c5c-bb9b-fbdf13ff9489)
Chapter 34 (#ulink_a4cbb11e-28b7-557b-9336-ee4037b3eb40)
Chapter 35 (#ulink_f7ac264b-9f6d-58df-ab17-863fee6b4c88)
Chapter 36 (#ulink_ea57042a-7e20-5a75-bc12-9055b606b970)
Chapter 37 (#ulink_f86f3129-b98a-58f7-b546-99b965563f7a)
Chapter 38 (#ulink_acc02a5f-7f83-5afa-bee3-72f85354af41)
Chapter 39 (#ulink_70dbd82a-1bbe-5b5d-8b2d-3f42f84022ad)
Chapter 40 (#ulink_638c9aab-236a-5da2-abf5-c9a62fb96411)
Chapter 41 (#ulink_5bbd5dd7-fe56-522e-a1a4-ef5f1fa8bf4f)
Chapter 42 (#ulink_92633d8e-5f5d-53e2-8118-26c08e29d5b7)
