Work on the 'The Holy Bible in Modern English' began in 1853 by a London businessman named Ferrar Fenton (1832–1920). The complete Bible was first published in 1903, though some individual bible 'books' were published as separate volumes during the preceding 11 years.
Fenton is well known for a rearranging of the books of the Bible into what the author believed was the correct chronological order. In the Old Testament, this order follows that of the Hebrew Bible. The name of God was translated throughout the Old Testament as "The Ever-Living".
Fenton is an exciting translation that shows respect and gives clarity in many areas where other translations fall short. This Bible is described as being "translated into English direct from the original Hebrew, Chaldee, and Greek languages."
Welcome to the new blog section. Join us in this exciting effort to display the works of Ferrar Fenton! The Holy Bible in Modern English is now fully digitized and can be seen for it's creative and artistic beauty as well as for the spiritual edification that we all need through the daily study of the scriptures.
This project actually began in 2012 when the conversion of scanned images, using OCR software, revived a very beautiful but tangled digital version of Ferrar Fenton's work. The major part of the editing, including verse alignment, OCR errors and chapter breaks took over one year. Still, as we go there are minor fixes to punctuation and a few odd necessary edits.
In its very raw form, 'The Holy Bible in Modern English' went online with a free but very undependable web hosting service in 2014, where it has been ever since.
With thanks to the generosity of others, just recently, the site has been moved to its current home. This hosting service is by far superior to the previous but costs are high so we are maintaining an ad service to help offset the costs.
RF ECC 8:1 | Lecture 10: Of the Characteristics of the Philosophic Mind in a Monarch. |
RF ECC 8:2 | I commend a King to take care, because of the promises he swore to GOD. |
RF ECC 8:3 | Be not in haste to go from before Him, nor persist in a wrong thing, for He does all He pleases. |
RF ECC 8:4 | Although a King's word is powerful, and who dare say to him, "What are you doing?"— |
RF ECC 8:5 | regard The Law;—and learn not bad practices,—but with an intelligent heart learn opportunity, and justice. |
RF ECC 8:6 | For there is an opportunity for every purpose, and decision, since many miseries are upon mankind. |
RF ECC 8:7 | For none of us know what will be; and as to what may happen, who can inform us? |
RF ECC 8:8 | No man has power over the breath, to retain the breath, and none are powerful in the day of death. And there is no discharge from that war; and villainy cannot deliver its possessor. |
RF ECC 8:9 | I observed all this when I applied my mind to all the things that are done under the sun, during the period that man has power over man, to injure him. |
RF ECC 8:10 | And I examined the tombs of the wicked carefully, who had come to, and departed from the Holy Place, and were forgotten in the City where they had done so.—They also were vanity.— |
RF ECC 8:11 | And I concluded that when quick punishment is not inflicted upon crime, then the heart of the sons of Adam is set in them to do wrong!— |
RF ECC 8:12 | Yet, although a sinner does wrong a hundred times, and evades from it,—yet I myself know that it will be well for those who reverence God,—who fear before Him,— |
RF ECC 8:13 | but it will not be well with the wicked; nor can they prolong their days like a shadow,—although they do not fear the presence of GOD. |
RF ECC 8:14 | Lecture 11: On the Mystery of Life. This is a puzzle that occurs upon earth;—There are good men who are treated as if they had done like the wicked;—and there are wicked who are treated as though they had done like the good. I said to myself, this is a puzzle!— |
RF ECC 8:15 | So I, myself, commend cheerfulness, as there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink, and be glad, and be at rest from his toil in the days of life which are given him under the sun. |
RF ECC 8:16 | When I applied my mind to learn science, and to the investigation of the phenomena that are produced upon earth, I perceived that day and night there must be no sleep for one's eyes. |
RF ECC 8:17 | And having examined all the works of God, I perceived that it is not possible for a man to discover the whole of the result that is produced under the sun;—since however a man endeavors to investigate, he cannot discover all. And even if a philosopher should assert "I know!" he has not been able to discover it. |