Page:1609 Doway Old Testament.pdf/8

TO THE ENGLISH READER. in wordes, some also in sense, as in long processe

of time, the writers erred in their copies; now lately by the

care & diligence of the Church, those diuers readings were

maturely, and iuditiously examined, and conferred with

sundrie the best written and printed bookes, & so resolued

vpon, that al which before were leift in the margent, are

either restored into the text, or els omitted; so that now

none such remaine in the margent. For which cause, we

haue againe conferred this English translation, and conformed

it to the most perfect Latin Edition. VVhere yet by

the way we must geue the vulgar reader to vnderstand, that

very few or none of the former varieties, touched Controuersies

of this time. So that this Recognition is no way

suspicious of partialtie, but is merely donne for the more

secure conseruation of the true text; and more ease, and

satisfaction of such, as otherwise should haue remained

more doubtful.

Now for the strictnes obserued in translating some

wordes, or rather the not translating of some, which is in

more danger to be disliked, we doubt not but the discrete

lerned reader, deepely weighing and considering the importance

of sacred wordes, and how easely the translatour

may misse the sense of the Holie Ghost, wil hold that which

is here donne for reasonable and necessarie. VVe haue also

the example of the Latin, and Greke, where some wordes

are not translated, but left in Hebrew, as they were first

spoken & written; which seeing they could not, or were not

conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greke, how much

lesse could they, or was it reason to turne them into English?

S. Augustin also yeldeth à reason, exemplifying in the

wordes Amen and Alleluia, for the more sacred authoritie therof.

which doubtles is the cause why some names of solemne

Feastes, Sacrifices, & other holie thinges are reserued in sacred

tongues, Hebrew, Greke, or Latin. Againe for necessitie,

English not hauing à name, or sufficient terme, we either