Page:Bible (Douay Rheims OT1, 1609).djvu/9

TO THE ENGLISH READER. ring in wordes, some also in sense, as in long process 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. Where 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 partialitie, 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. We 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 a 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 a name, or sufficient terme, we either kepe