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Revised Fenton

The Holy Bible in Modern English. Revised Edition.
God's word is swift and powerful.



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   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."

Blog entry: September 17, 2016


   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 PRO 31:1 The Address to the Godless King1; The Plea by which his mother entreated him.
   
RF PRO 31:2 Alas! My Son!—
Oh, son of my body! Son of my vows!
   
RF PRO 31:3 Give not your strength to women,
Nor your ways to destroyers of kings;
   
RF PRO 31:4 It is not for kings, you godless!
Not for kings to be drunk with wine,
Or for princes to love strong drink!
   
RF PRO 31:5 Lest you drink and forget the law,
And forget to do right to the poor!
   
RF PRO 31:6 Give drink to the ready to perish;
And wine to the bitter in mind;—
   
RF PRO 31:7 Let him drink and forget his distress,
And remember his misery no more.—
   
RF PRO 31:8 But open your mouth for the speechless,
Flead for all silent sons of distress,
   
RF PRO 31:9 Open your mouth for true justice,
And plead for the wretched and poor!
—————
(Note.—Every couplet of the following exquisitely beautiful poem begins in the original with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet: the first with A, the next with B, and so forward to Th the final one. I am not able to reproduce this, but in all other respects my translation is word for word and line for line, as in the whole of Solomon's writings, so as to preserve his literary form.—F.F.)
   
RF PRO 31:10 The Good Wife.
Who ever finds a clever wife,
Her worth is more than pearls.
   
RF PRO 31:11 Her husband's heart can trust on her,
And he wants no supply.
   
RF PRO 31:12 She gives him comfort in his grief,
While she remains alive.
   
RF PRO 31:13 She works up the wool and the flax,
And spins them with her own hands.
   
RF PRO 31:14 She, like the merchants with their ships,
Will bring home food from far.
   
RF PRO 31:15 Will rise at dawn to fix housework,
And give food to her girls.
   
RF PRO 31:16 She will survey and purchase a field;
Her profits plant the farm.
   
RF PRO 31:17 She girds her loins up with strength,
Invigorates her arms.
   
RF PRO 31:18 She tastes her trading brings her good,
So lights her lamp at night.
   
RF PRO 31:19 Her hands are to the shuttle stretched,
The spindle she can drive.
   
RF PRO 31:20 Her hands give out gifts to the poor,
Her fingers help their needs.
   
RF PRO 31:21 Her family fears not the snow;—
Her household double clothed.
   
RF PRO 31:22 She makes herself rugs for her beds;
Her robes are purple lawn;
   
RF PRO 31:23 Her husband's honoured in the Gates,
Sits down amongst the peers.
   
RF PRO 31:24 She makes and sells fine satin cloth,
And girdles to the trade.
   
RF PRO 31:25 In strength and honour she is clothed,
And at the future smiles.
   
RF PRO 31:26 Her mouth with wisdom is unclosed,
Kind law controls her tongue.
   
RF PRO 31:27 Her household's conduct she controls,
And eats not idle bread.
   
RF PRO 31:28 Her children rise and call her blessed,
Her husband gives her praise;
   
RF PRO 31:29 "Many wives have acted well,
But you surpass the whole."
   
RF PRO 31:30 Conclusion.
A form deceives, and beauty fades,—
A wife who fears the LORD is grand;
   
RF PRO 31:31 Give her the product of her hands;
Praise her works in the Gates.
END OF SOLOMON'S PROVERBS.
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1. Note.—Leaving the compound Hebrew word "Lemuel," untranslated as in the old versions, loses the force of this fine poem; Lemuel, meaning "No-God for-me," i.e., "The King who rejected God"—"The Godless King." other translators make the meaning "Devoted to God"—F.F.
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