GENESIS 8:11 

Coverdale. She returned unto him about even tide, and behold, she had broken off a leaf of an olive tree and bare it in her nebb. Then Noah perceived that the waters were abated upon the earth. 

Geneva. And the dove came to him in the evening, and lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf that she had plucked. Whereby Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 

King James. And the dove came in to him in the evening, and, lo, in her mouth was an olive leaf plucked off; so Noah knew that the waters were abated from off the earth. 

EXODUS 13:21 

Coverdale. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the right way, and by night in a pillar of fire, that he might show the light to walk both by day and night. 

Geneva. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might go both by day and by night. 

King James. And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. 

LEVITICUS 11:21, 22 

Coverdale. Yet these shall ye eat of the fowls that creep and go upon four feet; even those that have no knees above upon the legs, to hop withal upon the earth. Of these may ye eat, as there is the arbe with his kind, and the selaam with his kind, and the hargol with his kind, and the hagab with his kind, 

Geneva. ... Of them shall ye eat these, the grasshopper after his kind, the solcan after his kind, the hargol after his kind, and the hegab* (*The strange names were attempts to give in English letters the exact Hebrew terms.) after his kind. 

King James. Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 

Revised Standard Version. Yet among the winged insects that go on all fours you may eat those which have legs above their feet, with which to leap on the earth. Of them you may eat: the locust according to its kind, the bald locust according to its kind, the cricket according to its kind, and the grasshopper according to its kind. 

NUMBERS 21:8 

Coverdale. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Make thee a brasen serpent, and set it up for a token. Whosoever is bitten, and looketh upon it, shall live. 

Geneva. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it up for a sign, that as many as are bitten shall look upon it and live. 

King James. And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 

DEUTERONOMY 24:5 

Coverdale. When a man hath newly taken a wife, he shall not go out a warfare, neither shall he be charged withal. He shall be free in his house one year long, that he may be merry with his wife which he hath taken. 

Geneva. When a man taketh a new wife, he shall not go a warfare, neither shall he be charged with any business, but shall be free at home one year, and rejoice with his wife which he hath taken. 

King James. When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken. 

JOSHUA 6:20 

Coverdale. Then made the people a great shout and the priests blew the trumpets (for when the people heard the noise of the trumpets, they made a great shout) and the walls fell, and the people climbed up in to the city, every man straight before him. Thus they won the city. 

Geneva. So the people shouted when they had blown trumpets; for when the people had heard the sound of the trumpet, they shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat; so the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 

King James. So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. 

JUDGES 5:25-27 

Bishops’ Bible. He asked water and she gave him milk, she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the smith’s hammer; with the hammer smote she Sisera and smote his head, wounded him and pierced his temples. He bowed him down at her feet, he fell down, and lay still at her feet, he bowed himself and fell, and when he had sunk down, he lay there destroyed. 

King James. He asked water, and she gave him milk: she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer; and with the hammer she smote Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. At her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down. At her feet he bowed, he fell; where he bowed, there he fell down dead. 

Jewish Bible of 1917. Water he asked, milk she gave him. In a lordly bowl she brought him curd. Her hand she put to the tent pin, and her right hand to the workmen’s hammer . , , At her feet he sunk, he fell, he lay; at her feet he sunk, he fell; where he sunk, there he fell down dead. 

JUDGES 15:16 

Coverdale. And Samson said: With an old ass’s cheek bone, yea even with the cheek bone of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 

Geneva. Then Samson said. With the jaw of an ass are heaps upon heaps; with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 

King James. And Samson said. With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men. 

I KINGS 10:4, 5 

Coverdale. When the queen of rich Arabia saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the house that he had builded, and the meats of his table, and the dwellings of his servants, and the offices of his ministers and their garments, and his butlers, and the burnt offerings which he offered in the house of the Lord, she wondered accordingly. 

Geneva. Then the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon’s wisdom, and the houses he had built. And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the order of his ministers, and their apparel, and his drinking vessels, and his burnt offerings that he offered in the house of the Lord, and she was greatly astonied. 

King James. And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built. And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord; there was no more spirit in her. 

I CHRONICLES 29:11 

Geneva. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the praise: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art excellent as head above all. 

King James. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. 

II CHRONICLES 20:21 

Coverdale. . . . Appointed the singers unto the Lord, and them that gave praise in the beauty of holiness, to go before the harnessed men, and to say, O give thanks unto the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever. 

Geneva. . . . Praise him that is in the beautiful sanctuary . . . Praise ye the Lord, for his mercy lasteth for ever. 

King James. ... he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say. Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth for ever. 

JOB 14:1, 2 

Coverdale. Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live and is full of diverse miseries. He cometh up and falleth away like a flower . . . 

Geneva. Man that is born of a woman is for short continuance and full of trouble. He shooteth forth as a flower, and is cut down . . . 

King James. Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down . . . 

JOB 42:5 

Coverdale. I have given diligent ear unto thee, and now I see ye with mine eyes. 

Geneva, Bishops’, and King James. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee. 

Douay. With the hearing of the ear I have heard thee, and now mine eye seeth thee.  

Revised Standard Version. I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now mine eye sees thee. 

PSALMS 8:5 

Coverdale. After thou haddest for a season made him lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with honor and glory. 

Geneva. For thou hast made him a little lower than God, and crowned him with glory and worship. 

King James. For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor. 

PSALM 23 

Geneva. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to rest in green pasture, and leadeth me by the still waters. . . . Doubtless kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall remain a long season in the house of the Lord. 

Bishops’. God is my shepherd, therefore I can lack nothing. He will cause me to repose myself in pasture full of grass, and he will lead me unto calm waters. He will convert my soul . . . Truly felicity and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of God for a long time. 

King James. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul . . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. 

PSALM 46:1 

Coverdale. In our trouble and adversity, we have found that God is our refuge, our strength and help. 

Geneva. God is our hope and strength and help in troubles, ready to be found. 

King James. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

PSALM 91:1, 2 

Geneva. Whoso dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say unto the Lord, O mine hope and my fortress; he is my God, in him will I trust. 

Bishops’. Whosoever sitteth under the cover of the Most High, he shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty . . . 

Douay. He that dwelleth in the aid of the most High shall abide under the protection of the God of Jacob . . . 

King James. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 

PSALM 121:1 

Geneva. I will lift mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence my help shall come. 

King James. I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 

Jewish Bible of 1917. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains. From whence shall my help come? 

PSALM 137:1, 2 

Coverdale. By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. As for our harps, we hanged them up upon the trees that are therein. 

Geneva. By the rivers of Babel we sate, and there we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 

King James. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 

PSALM 139:7-11 

Coverdale. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I climb up in to heaven, thou art there. If I go down to hell, thou art there also. If I take the wings of the morning, and remain in the uttermost part of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, peradventure the darkness shall cover me, then shall my night be turned to day. 

Geneva. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend into heaven, thou art there; if I lie down in hell, thou art there. Let me take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Yet thither shall thine hand lead me, and thy right hand hold me. If I say, yet the darkness shall hide me, even the night shall be light about me. 

Bishops’. Whither can I go from thy spirit, or whither can I flee from thy face? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I lay me down in hell, thou art there also. If I take the wings of the morning, and go to dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there also thy hand shall lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. And if I say peradventure the darkness shall cover me; and the night shall be day for me. 

King James. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say. Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 

SONG OF SOLOMON, 2:11-13 

Bishops’.* (*In the Bishops’ Bible the book is called “The Ballet of Ballets of Solomon.”) For lo the winter is now passed, the rain is away and gone, the flowers are come up in the field, the time of the birds’ singing is come, and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land . . . 

Geneva. For behold, winter is passed, the rain is changed and is gone away. The flowers appear in the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The fig tree hath brought forth her young figs, and the vines with their small grapes have cast a savor. 

King James. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. ... 

ISAIAH 9:6

Coverdale. For unto us a child shall be born, and unto us a son shall be given. Upon his shoulder shall the government be, and he shall be called by his own name: The wondrous giver of counsel, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. 

Bishops’. For unto us a child is born, and unto us a son is given, upon his shoulder shall the rule be, and he is called with his own name, wonderful the giver of counsel, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. 

Douay. For a child is born to us, and a son is given to us, and the government is upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, God the mighty, the Father of the world to come, the prince of peace. 

King James. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

ISAIAH 52:7 

Coverdale. O how beautiful are the feet of the ambassador that bringeth the message from the mountain and proclaimeth peace, that bringeth the good tidings and preacheth health, that saith unto Zion, Thy God is the king. 

Geneva. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that declareth and publisheth peace, declareth good tidings, and publisheth salvation, saying unto Zion, Thy God reigneth. 

Douay. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings and that preacheth peace, of him that showeth forth good, that preacheth salvation, that saith to Zion, Thy God shall be king. 

King James. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

ISAIAH 60:19 

Bishops’. The sun shall never be thy daylight, and the light of thy moon shall never shine unto thee; but the Lord shall be thine everlasting light; and thy God shall be thy glory. 

King James. The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 

ISAIAH 65:24 

Coverdale and Bishops’. And it shall be that or ever they call, I will answer them, and while they are but thinking how to speak, I will hear them. 

King James. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 

JOEL 3:14 

Coverdale. In the valley appointed there shall be many, many people, for the day of the Lord is nigh in the valley appointed. 

Geneva. O Multitude, O Multitude, come into the valley of threshing, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of threshing. 

Bishops’. O people, people, come into the valley of final judgment, for the day of the Lord is at hand in the valley of final judgment. 

Douay. Nations, nations, in the valley of destruction, for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of destruction. 

King James. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 

MICAH 6:8 

Geneva. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee; firstly to do justly, and to have mercy, and to humble thy self to walk with thy God. 

King James. He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? 

ZEPHANIAH 3:17 

Geneva. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will quiet himself in his love; he will rejoice over thee with joy. 

King James. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 

ZECHARIAH 14:20 

Geneva. In that day shall there be written upon the bridles of horses. The holiness unto the Lord. 

King James. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses. Holiness unto the Lord. . . . 

MALACHI 4:2 

Coverdale. ... Ye shall go forth and multiply as the fat calves. 

Geneva. But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise, and health shall be under his wings, and ye shall go forth and grow up as fat calves. 

Bishops’. But to you that fear my name shall that son of righteousness arise, and health shall be under his wings, and ye shall go forth and skip like fat calves. 

King James. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings, and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 

MATTHEW 5:13 

Tyndale. If the salt have lost his saltness, what can be salted therewith? 

King James. If the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? 

MATTHEW 6:7 

Tyndale. When ye pray, babble not much, as the heathen do, for they think that they shall be heard for their much babblings sake. 

King James. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 

MATTHEW 6:10 

Bishops’. Let thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as well in earth as it is in heaven. 

King James. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

MATTHEW 6:33 

Tyndale. Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and the righteousness thereof. 

King James. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness . . . 

MATTHEW 10:9 

Tyndale. Possess not gold, nor silver, nor brass in your girdles.

King James. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses. 

LUKE 2:14 

Coverdale. Glory be unto God on high, and peace upon earth, and unto men a good will. 

Geneva. Glory be to God in the high heavens, and peace in earth, and towards men good will. 

Bishops’. Glory to God in the highest and peace on the earth, and among men a good will. 

Douay. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. 

King James. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

LUKE 6:32 

Tyndale. . . . for the very sinners love their lovers. 

King James. . . . for sinners also love those that love them. 

LUKE 11:34 

Coverdale. The eye is the light of the body. 

Geneva. The light of the body is the eye. 

Bishops’. The candle of the body is the eye. 

Douay. The light of the body is the eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body will be lightsome; but if it be evil thy body also will be darksome. 

King James. The light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. 

LUKE 22:56 

Tyndale. And one of the wenches beheld him as he sat by the fire and set good eyesight on him. 

King James. But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him . . . 

JOHN 14:2 

Coverdale. In my Father’s house are many dwellings. 

Geneva and Bishops’. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places. 

Douay. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. 

King James. In my Father’s house are many mansions. 

Revised Standard Version. In my Father’s house are many rooms. 

JOHN 14:27 

Tyndale. . . . Let not your heart be grieved, neither fear ye.

King James. . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

JOHN 15:12 

Tyndale. . . . That ye love together . . .

King James. . . . That ye love one another . . . 

JOHN 15:13 

Tyndale. Greater love than this hath no man, than that a man bestow his life for his friends. 

Coverdale. No man hath greater love than to set his life for his friend. 

Bishops’. Greater love than this hath no man, when any man bestoweth his life for his friends. 

King James. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

I CORINTHIANS 13:4 

Bishops’. Charity suffereth long and is courteous, charity envieth not, charity doth not frowardly, swelleth not. 

King James. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 

II CORINTHIANS 1:5 

Tyndale. For as the afflictions of Christ are plenteous in us, even so is our consolation plenteous by Christ. 

King James. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. 

II CORINTHIANS 3:18 

Geneva. But we all behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord with open face, and are changed into the same image from glory to glory as by the spirit of the Lord. 

King James. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 

II CORINTHIANS 4:1, 2 

Tyndale. Therefore seeing that we have such an office, even as mercy is come on us, we faint not; but have cast from us the cloaks of unhonesty, and walk not in craftiness, neither corrupt we the word of God; but walk in the truth, and report ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 

King James. Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 

REVELATION 10:6 

Bishops’. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be no longer time. 

King James. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer. 

Revised Standard Version. And swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there should be no more delay. 

REVELATION 21:2 

Geneva. And I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband. 

Bishops’. And I John saw the holy city. New Jerusalem, come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride garnished for her husband. 

King James. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

REVELATION 21:4 

Tyndale. . . . for the old things are gone. 

King James. . . . for the former things are passed away. 

REVELATION 22:17 

Tyndale, Bishops’ and King James. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say. Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 

Revised Standard Version. The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let him who hears say, “Come.” And let him who is thirsty come, let him who desires take the water of life without price.