“The very meanest translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession, containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God.”

Affirming the sacred value of an English translation despite imperfections · Preface, The Translators to the Reader (1611)

• Faith
• Truth

“We desire that the Scripture may speak like itself, as in the language of Canaan, that it may be understood even of the very vulgar.”

Expressing the aim of making sacred writing intelligible to ordinary readers · Preface, The Translators to the Reader (1611)

• Faith
• Truth

“Variety of translations is profitable for the finding out of the sense of the Scriptures.”

Presenting different renderings as a resource for understanding · Preface, The Translators to the Reader (1611)

• Faith
• Truth

“We have not tied ourselves to a uniformity of phrasing, or to an identity of words, as some peradventure would wish that we had done.”

Defending variety in language as compatible with faithful translation · Preface, The Translators to the Reader (1611)

• Language
• Truth

“Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel.”

Describing translation as a way of making hidden meaning accessible · Preface, The Translators to the Reader (1611)

• Beauty
• Truth