Page:Douay Rheims Bible 1635 edition.pdf/7

TO THE ENGLISH READER others, and freely testifieth, that the old Interpreter translated religiously. What then doe our countrimen, that refuse this Latin, but depriue themselues of the best, and yet al this while haue set forth none, that is allowed by al Protestants for good or sufficient?

How wel this is done the learned may iudge, when by mature conference they shal haue made trial thereof. And if any thing be mistaken, we wil (as stil we promise) gladly correct it. Those that translated it about thirty yeares since, were wel knowen to the world, to haue been excellent in the tongs, sincere men, and great Diuines. Only one thing we haue done touching the text, whereof we are especially to giue notice: That whereas heretofore in the best Latin Editions there remained many places differing in words, some also in sense, as in long processe of time the writers erred in their copies, now lately by the care and diligence of the Church, those diuers readings were maturely and iudiciously examined and conferred with sundry the best written and printed books, and so resolued vpon, that al which before were left 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 again conferred this English translation, and conformed it to the most perfect Latin Edition. Where yet by the way we must giue 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 partiality, but is meerly done 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 words, or rather the not translating of some, which is in more danger to be disliked, we doubt not but the discrete learned reader, deeply weighing and considering the importance of sacred words, and how easily the translatour may misse the sense of the Holy Ghost, wil hold that which is here done for reasonable and necessary. We haue also the example of the Latin and Greek, where some words are not translated, but left in Hebrew, as they were first spoken and written; which seeing they could not, or were not conuenient to be translated into Latin or Greeke