The Translators to the Readers

I took the time to read the preface in my Bible (KJV) over the last couple days, and I was surprised by the depth to which the translators explained the issues that they dealt with in the translation process -- many of those issues are "current"...yet the translators had to take them into consideration even in 1611.

I found the final paragraph (which I have divided into three parts for ease of reading) to be very provoking - stimulating thought, and encouraging me to walk by the same rule whereto I have already attained, as Paul exhorts the Philippians (3:16).


"Many other things we might give thee warning of, gentle reader, if we had not exceeded the measure of a Preface already. It remaineth that we commend thee to God, and to the Spirit of His grace, which is able to build further than we can ask or think. He removeth the scales from our eyes, the vail from our hearts, opening our wits that we may understand His Word, enlarging our hearts, yea, correcting our affections, that we may love it above gold and silver, yea, that we may love it to the end.

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. 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 coasts; neither yet with Esau sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. 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 St. Chrysostome, It is altogether impossible, that he that is sober (and watchful) should at any time be neglected. Lastly, the admonition and menacing of St. Augustine, They that despise God's will inviting them, shall feel God's will taking vengeance of them.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God; but a blessed thing it is, and will bring us to everlasting blessedness in the end, when God speaketh unto us, to hearken; when He setteth His Word before us, to read it; when He stretcheth out His hand and calleth, to answer, Here am I; here we are to do thy will, O God. The Lord work a care and conscience in us to know Him and serve Him, that we may be acknowledged of Him at the appearing of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, to whom with the Holy Ghost, be all praise and thanksgiving. Amen."


Having the very Word of God in our hands, we should not despise it nor ignore it, but guard it as though it were the only spring of water -- living water in this dry and thirsty land...for it is the Word of life preserved for us by God's mighty hand. Let us drink not sparingly of it, but as we are commanded to: opening our mouths wide, that the Lord may fill us with every spiritual blessing in high places. Let us not hoard it either, but as we have been filled, we ought to thus share with others -- that as it were rivers of living water might flow out of us -- giving refreshment and direction to those both weary and lost along the way.