part of the reality of this book); none are of major doctrinal significance. Corrections of names, numbers, and places, most often found in chapters of repetitive lists, were placed in parentheses, immediately following the error, to enable better comparison with other translations.
A handful of printing errors - reversed letters or misread vowels of pronouns, prepositions, and adverbs - were discovered in the "Later Version" of the WB. These were confirmed by referring to the "Early Version", which in each case agreed with either the Hebrew of the OT, or the Greek of the NT, and not with the "Later Version" of the WB. These were corrected, and in the online files and in files on the Wycliffe's Bible CD, the "Early Version" phrases have been provided for comparison purposes.
Use of the "Early Version"
The "Later Version" of the "Wycliffe Bible" is the foundation upon which Wycliffe's Bible was built. Strictly speaking, Wycliffe's Bible is not a composite of the "Later" and "Early" versions. However, the "Early Version" of the WB was utilized in a number of significant ways in the writing of Wycliffe's Bible.
First, the "Early Version" was used to define unknown words found in the "Later Version". Irregular spelling can make even the simplest words difficult to decipher. The "Early Version" served as a second source for such words. Often it had a more recognizable spelling, and so helped to identify them. As well, as was stated above, often a modern equivalent of a "dead" word (to be used as a replacement or a substitution word) was found only in the "Early Version". Similarly, and again surprisingly, modern verb forms were also often found only in the "Early Version". Their existence helped achieve verb form consistency in Wycliffe's Bible.
Second, the "Early Version" served as a source of "missing" words and phrases. In the WOT, about two dozen times, a textually significant word or partial phrase was not found in the "Later Version", but was present in the "Early Version" (following the Hebrew and also found in the KJV). Examples include: Genesis 35:5 and 50:22; Leviticus 4:21; Numbers 32:29 and 35:27; Deuteronomy 3:22; Joshua 16:8; 1st Samuel 1:9; 2nd Samuel 17:28; 1st Kings 8:2, 8:34, 21:7, and 21:19; 2nd Kings 1:4; Ezra 4:8; Proverbs 5:4 and 21:21; Isaiah 64:2; Jeremiah 52:22; Ezekiel 15:4; Hosea 2:12; and Zechariah 7:4. (An even greater number of significant phrase fragments are "missing" from the WOT "Early Version".) In the WNT, a limited number of times, a textually significant word, or partial phrase, not found in the "Later Version", but present in the "Early Version" (following the Greek and also found in the KJV), was inserted into Wycliffe's New Testament to enhance its accuracy, reader comprehension, and/or the flow of the passage. Seven significant examples include Deeds 6:3, 13:20, 17:10, 18:21, Ephesians 6:21, and Apocalypse 16:4-5 and 17:16. Countless more times, less consequential "missing" words, mostly "and" and "the" - perhaps inadvertently "dropped" by weary or distracted copyists - were often found only in "Early Version" verses. These "missing" words, significant and insignificant alike, were inserted in Wycliffe's Bible to improve its accuracy, reader comprehension, and passage flow. All "missing" words are contained within square brackets [ ].
Third, like the glosses and footnotes, the "Early Version" itself served as a source of "alternate" words and phrases. When the "Early Version", the "Later Version", and the KJV are compared side-by-side, one discovers numerous instances where the KJV leaves off from following the "Later Version" and, to a greater or lesser degree, mirrors the "Early Version". Sometimes it is a single word, sometimes it is a phrase, and sometimes it is the order of several phrases within a verse. This usually occurs where the "Early Version" more closely follows the Hebrew of the OT, or the Greek of the NT, than does the "Later Version". These textually significant "alternate" renderings from the "Early Version" are also contained within square brackets [ ].
Fourth, the "Early Version" served as a source of "interesting" words and phrases, no more accurate than what is found in the "Later Version", and many not utilized by the KJV, but fascinating nevertheless. Words such as "experiment", "prescience", "copious", and "litigious", to name but a few. These words are written in italics, and are placed in square brackets, [ ], in Wycliffe's Old Testament, and in parentheses, "( )", in Wycliffe's New Testament (see the note below).
Fifth, in 1st Chronicles 8:16-26 (one of the "list" chapters), the text of the "Early Version" was used, rather than that of the "Later Version", because of more accurate punctuation. There are no major differences in wording between the two versions; consistency in punctuation and aid to comprehension were the only reasons for using these "EV" verses. Each verse is marked with a superscript "E" to denote its origin.
To sum up: All of the words in square brackets, "[ ]", in Wycliffe's Bible are from the "Early Version" of the "Wycliffe Bible". Some were added to aid textual accuracy, reader comprehension, and passage flow; other words are either "alternate" words that are textually closer to the original Hebrew or the original Greek, and/or what is found in the KJV, or simply "interesting" variations too fascinating to ignore. A limited number of these "EV" words are printed in Wycliffe's Bible, but all of them can be found in the online files and in files on the Wycliffe's Bible CD.
For the Revised Edition of Wycliffe's New Testament, the number of "Early Version" words in square brackets was dramatically reduced, in an effort to reduce clutter on the page, and so to improve readability. However, not wanting to short-change the reader of many of the insights and interesting alternatives found in the WNT "Early Version", notable excerpts were taken from the same verses, written in italics, and placed in parentheses. Indeed, all of the words in italics in parentheses in Wycliffe's New Testament are from the "Early Version" of the New Testament of the "Wycliffe Bible". For further details, see the "Preface to the Revised Edition of Wycliffe's New Testament".
All of the foregoing understood, it needs to be clearly stated that Wycliffe's Bible can be read, and readily comprehended, without reference to any of the words or phrases found within the square brackets or the parentheses. The "Later Version" of the "Wycliffe Bible" - as represented by Wycliffe's Bible - can and does stand on its own. The inclusion of the words in the square brackets, and those in parentheses, written in italics, simply provide additional dimensions of this seminal work in the English translation of the Bible. (For more discussion of "Early Version" highlights and insights, see the "Endnotes" section at the back of the book.)
A Final Note
With the spelling up-dated, and the obsolete words replaced, the book you now hold in your hands is a fair and accurate representation of John Wycliffe's and John Purvey's 14th century translation of the very first English vernacular Bible. This is their Bible with modern spelling - not some 21th century variation on a medieval theme. The melodies and harmonies are distinctly Wycliffe's and Purvey's. Only now they are sung with words that we can all understand. Six centuries later, you can now read what those common folk were themselves at long last able to read (or more likely, have read to them). Simple, direct words, with their own rhythm and charm, their own humble, cogent beauty. Sophisticated and graceful words, their originality and newness making the well-known and fondly remembered fresh and alive once again. All because John Wycliffe and John Purvey, and their compeers, cared so deeply, and sacrificed so dearly.
Today there are scores of modern translations of the Bible in English, available at the library, in bookstores, and on the Internet. But once, there was just one. This one. Try to imagine the impact upon hearing (or reading) these words for the very first time:
Ecclesiastes, Chapter 3:
"Wycliffe Bible", 1395 (Original Spelling):
Alle thingis han tyme,
Wycliffe's Bible, 2012 (Modern-Spelling Version):
All things have a time,
1395: and alle thingis vndur [the] sunne passen bi her spaces. 2012: and all things under the sun pass by their spaces, or pass forth in their places.
1395:
