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 CH2 18:1 | (897 B.C.) Jehoshaphat's Prosperity. He Joins Ahab against Ramoth-Gilead. Jehoshaphat thus possessed wealth and honour, in plenty, and made friendship with Ahab, |
RF CH2 18:2 | and went down at the end of Summer to Ahab at Shomeron, when Ahab sacrificed many sheep and oxen, as did his people, and he persuaded him to advance against Ramoth-Gilad. |
RF CH2 18:3 | For Ahab, King of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth-Gilad? When he replied, "You and I are alike! And your people as my people in battle." |
RF CH2 18:4 | "But," Jehoshaphat said to the King of Israel, let us, I pray, enquire what day the EVER-LIVING says!" |
RF CH2 18:5 | The King of Israel consequently collected seven hundred men of his Preachers, and asked them, "Should we go up to Ramoth-Gilad to fight,—or refrain?" And they replied, "Advance! and the GODs will give it to the hand of the King!" |
RF CH2 18:6 | But Jehoshaphat asked, "Is there not here any Preacher of the EVER-LIVING, that we may enquire from Him?" |
RF CH2 18:7 | And the King of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, "There is one man from whom we could enquire of the EVER-LIVING,—but I hate him;—for he never proclaims success to me, but misfortune all his time. He is Mikiah,-ben-Imla." Jehoshaphat, however answered, "Let not the King say so!" |
RF CH2 18:8 | The King of Israel therefore called to a Chamberlain, and said, "Bring Mikiah,-ben-Imla." |
RF CH2 18:9 | And the King of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, each sat on his throne, clothed in splendid robes, and placed in the Square opposite the Gate of Shomeron, with all the Preachers reciting before them; |
RF CH2 18:10 | and Zedekihu,-ben-Kananiah, had made iron horns for himself, and exclaimed, "Thus says the EVER-LIVING, you shall push Aram with these to destruction!" |
RF CH2 18:11 | And all the Preachers recited the same, and said, "Go up to Ramoth-Gilad, and prosper! For the LORD will give it into the hand of the King!" |
RF CH2 18:12 | Consequently the Messenger who had gone to invite Mikiah, said to him: "You will perceive the promises of the Preachers are unanimously for good to the King! So let your promise be like one of theirs, and promise good!" |
RF CH2 18:13 | But Mikiah answered: "By the life of the EVER-LIVING! Whatever GOD commands by me to him, I shall say!" |
RF CH2 18:14 | When they came to the King, the King asked him, "Mikiah, should I go to Ramoth-Gilad to fight, or should I refrain?" And he replied, "Go up and prosper;—when they are given to your hand!" |
RF CH2 18:15 | But the King answered him, "How often must I put you on Oath, that you will not speak to me, except the truth in the Name of the EVER-LIVING?" |
RF CH2 18:16 | The Vision of Zedekiah. Then he replied; "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep who have no shepherd, and the EVER-LIVING asked, "Have these no masters? Let every one return to its own home in peace!" |
RF CH2 18:17 | Consequently the King of Israel exclaimed to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you, he would not proclaim good to me, but only misfortune?" |
RF CH2 18:18 | So he answered: "Therefore, hear the Message of the EVER-LIVING! I saw the EVER-LIVING seated on HIS THRONE, and all the Hosts of the Heavens, stationed on His right hand and on His left, |
RF CH2 18:19 | and when the EVER-LIVING asked, Who will entice Ahab King of Israel, so that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth-Gilad?' And this one said thus, and another said that. |
RF CH2 18:20 | "Then a Spirit came forward and stood before the EVER-LIVING, and said, I will entice him!' When the EVER-LIVING asked him how? |
RF CH2 18:21 | "And he replied, 'I will go, and become a lying Spirit in the mouth of all his Preachers.' So He answered, You may entice him, and also succeed! Go, and do so.' |
RF CH2 18:22 | "And now, look! The EVER-LIVING has put a lying Spirit into the mouth of those Preachers of yours;—but the EVER-LIVING told me bad news about you!" |
RF CH2 18:23 | Then Zedekihu,-ben-Kananiah, approached, and struck Mikiah on the jaw, and asked, "By what road did the Spirit from the EVER-LIVING pass from me to speak to you?" |
RF CH2 18:24 | When Mikiah answered, "You will see on that day when you go to an inner Chamber to hide yourself!" |
RF CH2 18:25 | Then the King of Israel exclaimed, "Seize Mikiah! and hand him to Amon the Commandant of the Citadel, and to the Prince Joash, |
RF CH2 18:26 | and say to them:—"Put this fellow into the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction, and water of affliction, until I return in safety!" |
RF CH2 18:27 | But Mikiah replied, "If you return in safety the EVER-LIVING has not spoken by me!" Then he shouted, "Listen, all you People!" |
RF CH2 18:28 | Ahab and Jehoshaphat advance to Ramoth-Gilead. So the King of Israel, and Jehoshaphat King of Judah, advanced to Ramoth-Gilead, |
RF CH2 18:29 | where the King of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself when going to battle; but you shall wear your robes." The King of Israel consequently disguised himself when he went to battle. |
RF CH2 18:30 | The King of Aram, however, had ordered the Commanders of his Chariots, saying;—"Do not fight with small or great, but only with the King of Israel himself." |
RF CH2 18:31 | So when the Commanders of the Chariots saw Jhoshafat, they said, "That is the King of Israel," and they surrounded him to fight. But Jhoshafat cried out, when the LORD helped him, and GOD made him escape from them. |
RF CH2 18:32 | Then when the Commanders of the Chariots perceived that he was not the King of Israel, they returned from following him. |
RF CH2 18:33 | A man, however, drew a bow at a venture, and hit the King of Israel between the joints of his armour, when he said to his Charioteer, "Pull in your hand, and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded! |
RF CH2 18:34 | (897 B.C.) Death of Ahab. The battle, however, went on that day, and the King of Israel was supported in his Chariot opposite Aram until the evening, but he died at the time of Sunset. |