2. The Holy Bible, 1611 Edition, King James Version, 400th Anniversary, Hendrickson Publishers. 1611/2003. God. 1536 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]
First sentence: In the beginning God created the Heauen and the Earth. And the earth was without forme, and voyd, and darkenesse was vpon the face of the deepe: and the Spirit of God mooued vpon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good, and God diuided the light from the darkenesse.
I first read the 1611 KJV in digital format in 2021. I was SO thrilled to find a print copy still at a physical store last December. I'd given up hope of finding one. Yes, I could have ordered online. But you can't be discerning about if the layout, the print, the ghosting, the weight, etc., will be *right for you* until you hold it in your hands. Was it? Yes and no. In a perfect world, the font size would be a smidgen bigger--not a horrendous amount.
I started this one December 25, 2024. I finished this one--minus the apocrypha--on March 18, 2025.
I absolutely should have remembered that the 1611 KJV included the apocrypha. I didn't. I therefore didn't calculate the time into my reading plan/schedule to include the apocrypha. To be fair, reading it in early-modern English isn't at the top of my to do list. I've read the apocrypha in the KJV, RSV, the NRSV, and I believe the New English Bible? Regardless, I've read it a handful of times in my life.
I did want the original spelling. I don't know exactly what it is about reading the original spelling that engages and delights me. You might think it would be super difficult or tricky, but your mind can get the hang of it fairly quickly. And the spelling even starts to make some sense if you sound it out in your head. I imagine someone with a drawl.
The print edition does NOT feature page numbers. I found at least one typo, yet there may be more. (The top of each left hand page includes the title of the book as a header, one of Micah's pages had JOEL substituted. Or to be more accurate, Ioel. It is double column, black letter. Is it a facsimile? No. Yes. Maybe. It is a facsimile of a nineteeth century roman typeface 1611 KJV. It is not a facsimile of the first-first-first ever 1611. It claims to be--and I have no true reason to doubt--that it is word for word, page for page, including the original marginal notes and introductory materials a copy of the original 1611.
Quotes:
Psalm 34:3 O magnifie the Lord with me, and let vs exalt his name together. 34:4 I sought the Lord, and hee heard me; and deliuered mee from all my feares.
Psalm 37:4 Delight thy selfe also in the Lord; and he shall giue thee the desires of thine heart.
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way vnto the Lord: trust also in him, and he shall bring it to passe.
Isaiah 9:6 For vnto vs a child is borne, vnto vs a Sonne is giuen, and the gouernment shalbe vpon his shoulder: and his name shalbe called, Wonderfull, Counseller, The mightie God, The euerlasting Father, The Prince of peace.
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his gouernment and peace there shall be no end, vpon the throne of Dauid & vpon his kingdome, to order it, and to stablish it with iudgement and with iustice, from henceforth euen for euer: the zeale of the Lord of hostes will performe this.
Isaiah 40:11 He shall feede his flocke like a shepheard: he shall gather the lambes with his arme; and carie them in his bosome, and shall gently lead those that are with yoong.
John 3:16 For God so loued ye world, that he gaue his only begotten Sonne: that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Sonne into the world to condemne the world: but that the world through him might be saued.
Romans 12:15 Reioyce with them that doe reioice, and weepe with them that weepe.
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