King James Bible

I  have been enjoying the series on Radio 4 about the translation and production of the King James Bible and some of the political issues surrounding its production. You can listen again here and  here , and  I shall be using their "listen again" facility to catch up on the final episode, which I will miss due to being back at work tomorrow :)

My absolutely favourite bit was the quote from the preface of the bible, written by Miles Smith. In a series of beautiful images he conveys what it  means to translate  the bible and to have it available in English -  a freedom  that would not have been taken so much for granted back in 1611,

"Translation it is that openeth the window, to let in the light; that breaketh the shell, that we may eat the kernel; that putteth aside the curtain, that we may look into the most Holy place; that removeth the cover of the well, that we may drink the water."