IntheEnglishlanguagetherewasasyetnoclassicalmeaning；itwasexactlythatmeaningthatthesewritersweregivingthewordswhentheybroughtthemintotheirversion。[1]Thereislargeadvantageinthefactthattheagewasnotascientificone，thatthelanguagehadnotbecomecomplicated。SoitbecomesinterestingtoobservewithProfessorMarchthatninety-threepercent。ofthesewords，countingalsorepetitions，arenativeEnglishwords。Thelanguagewasnew，wasstillplastic。Ithadnotbeenstiffenedbyuse。ItreceiveditssetmoredefinitelyfromtheEnglishBiblethanfromanyotheronework——morethanfromShakespeare，whoseinfluencewassecond。
[1]Trevelyan，EnglandundertheStuarts，p。54，ThefourthfactwhichhelpedtodetermineitsEnglishstyleistheloyaltyofthetranslatorstotheoriginal，notablytheHebrew。ItisacommonremarkofthestudentsoftheoriginaltonguesthattheHebrewandGreeklanguagesarepeculiarlytranslatable。ThatisnotableintheHebrew。Itisnotalanguageofabstractterms。Thetendencyoflanguageisalwaystobecomevague，sincewearelazyintheuseofit。
Weuseonewordinvariousways，andapetoneformanyideas。Languageisalwaysmoreconcreteinitsearlierforms。InthisperiodoftheconcreteEnglishlanguage，then，thetranslationwasmadefromtheHebrew，whichwasalsoaconcrete，figurativelanguageitself。ThestructureoftheHebrewsentenceisverysimple。
Therearenoextendedparagraphsinit。ItissomewhatdifferentintheNewTestament，wheretheseparagraphsarefound，certainlyinthePaulineGreek；buteventheretheextendedsentencesarebrokenintoclauseswhichcanbetakenaswholes。TheEnglishversionshowsconstantlythemarksoftheHebrewinfluenceinthesimplicityofitsphrasing。RenansaysthattheHebrew"knowshowtomakepropositions，butnothowtolinkthemintoparagraphs。"SotheearlierBiblestoriesarelikeachild'swayoftalking。Theyletonesentencefollowanother，andtheirunityisfoundintheoverflowinguseoftheword"and"——onefacthungtoanothertomakeastory，butnottomakeanargument。
InthefirsttenchaptersofISamuel，forexample，therearetwohundredandthirty-eightverses；
onehundredandsixtyofthembeginwithAND。
Thereareonlytwenty-sixofthewholewhichhavenoconnectivewordthatthruststhembackupontheprecedingverse。
IntheHebrewlanguage，also，mostoftheemotionsareconnectedeitherinthewordusedorinthewordsaccompanyingitwiththephysicalconditionthatexpressesit。Overandoverwearetoldthat"heopenedhismouthandsaid，"or，"hewasangryandhiscountenancefell。"Angerisexpressedinwordswhichtellofhardbreathing，ofheat，ofboilingtumult，oftrembling。Wewouldnottroubletosaythat。
Theopeningofthemouthtospeakorthefallingofthecountenanceinanger，wewouldtakeforgranted。TheHebrewdoesnot。EveninthedescriptionofGodyourememberthetermsarethoseofcommonlife；Heisashepherdwhenshepherdsarewriting；Heisahusbandmanthreshingoutthenations，treadingthewine-
pressuntilHeisreddenedwiththewine——andsoon。ThatisthenaturalmethodoftheHebrewlanguage——concrete，vivid，neverabstract，simpleinitsphrasing。TheKingJamestranslatorsareexceedinglyloyaltothatoriginal。
ProfessorCook，ofYale，suggeststhatfourtraitsmaketheBibleeasytotranslateintoanylanguage:universalityofinterest，sothatthereareapttobewordsinanylanguagetoexpresswhatitmeans，sinceitexpressesnothingbutwhatmenalltalkabout；then，theconcretenessandpicturesquenessofitslanguage，avoidingabstractphraseswhichmightbedifficulttoreproduceinanothertongue；then，thesimplicityofitsstructure，sothatitcanbetakeninsmallbits，andlongcomplicatedsentencesarenotneeded；and，finally，itsrhythm，sothatparteasilyfollowspartandthewordscatchakindofswingwhichisnotdifficulttoimitate。
Thatisaverytrueanalysis。TheBibleisthemosteasilytranslatedbookthereis，andhasbecometheclassicformorelanguagesthananyotheronebook。ItisbroughtaboutinpartinourEnglishversionbythefaithfulnessofthetranslatorstotheoriginal。
Passingfromthesegeneralconsiderations，letuslookdirectlyattheEnglishBibleitselfanditsliteraryqualities。Thefirstthingthatattractsattentionisitsuseofwords，andsincewordslieattherootofallliteratureitisworthwhiletostopforthemforamoment。Twothingsaretobesaidaboutthewords:first，thattheyarefew；and，secondly，thattheyareshort。ThevocabularyoftheEnglishBibleisnotanextensiveone。Shakespeareusesfromfifteentotwentythousandwords。InMilton'sverseheusesaboutthirteenthousand。IntheOldTestament，intheHebrewandChaldaictongue，therearefifty-sixhundredandforty-
twowords。IntheNewTestament，intheGreek，thereareforty-eighthundred。ButinthewholeoftheKingJamesversionthereareonlyaboutsixthousanddifferentwords。Thevocabularyisplainlyanarrowoneforabookofitssize。
While，aswassaidbefore，thetranslatorsavoidedusingthesamewordalwaysfortranslationofthesameoriginal，theyyetmanagedtorecurtothesamewordsoftenenoughsothatthiscomparativelysmalllistofsixthousandwords，aboutone-thirdShakespeare'svocabulary，sufficedforthestatingofthetruth。
Then，Secondly，thewordsareshort，andingeneralshortwordsarethestrongones。TheaveragewordinthewholeBible，includingthelongpropernames，isbarelyoverfourletters，andifallthepropernamesareexcludedtheaveragewordisjustalittleunderfourletters。Ofcourse，anotherwayofsayingthatisthatthewordsaregenerallyAnglo-Saxon，and，whileintheoriginalspellingtheyweremuchlonger，yetintheirsoundtheywereasbriefastheyareinourpresentspelling。ThereisnomeritinAnglo-
Saxonwordsexceptinthefactthattheyareconcrete，definite，non-abstractwords。Theyarewordsthatmeanthesametoeverybody；
theyarepartofcommonexperience。WeshallseethepowerofsuchwordsbycomparingasimplestatementinSaxonwordsfromtheEnglishBiblewithacommentofalearnedtheologianofourowntimeonthem。ThephraseisasimpleoneintheCommunionservice:
"Thisismybodywhichisgivenforyou。"
ThatisallSaxon。Whenourtheologiancomestocommentonithesayswearetounderstandthat"thevalidityoftheservicedoesnotlieinthequalityofexternalsignsandsacramentalrepresentation，butinitsessentialpropertyandsubstantialreality。"Nowthereareninewordsabstractintheirmeaning，Latinintheirform。
ItisinthatkindofwordsthattheBiblecouldhavebeentranslated，andinourowndaymightevenbetranslated。Addisonspeaksofthat:
"Ifanyonewouldjudgeofthebeautiesofpoetrythataretobemetwithinthedivinewritings，andexaminehowkindlytheHebrewmannersofspeechmixandincorporatewiththeEnglishlanguage，afterhavingperusedtheBookofPsalms，lethimreadaliteraltranslationofHoraceorPindar。Hewillfindinthesetwolastsuchanabsurdityandconfusionofstylewithsuchacomparativepovertyofimagination，aswillmakehimverysensibleofwhatIhavebeenhereadvancing。"[1]
[1]TheSpectator，No。405。
Thefactthatthewordsareshortcanbequicklyillustratedbytakingsomefamiliarsections。IntheTenCommandmentstherearethreehundredandnineteenwordsinall；twohundredandfifty-nineofthemarewordsofonesyllable，andonlysixtyareoftwosyllablesandover。Therearefiftywordsoftwosyllables，sixofthreesyllables，ofwhichfouraresuchcompositewordsthattheyreallyamounttotwowordsofoneandtwosyllableseach，withfourwordsoffoursyllables，andnoneoverthat。
Makeacomparisonjusthere。ThereisaparagraphinProfessorMarch'slecturesontheEnglishlanguagewhereheisurgingthatitsstrongestwordsarepurelyEnglish，notderivedfromGreekorLatin。HeusestheKingJamesversionasillustration。If，now，wetakethreehundredandnineteenwordsatthebeginningofthatparagraphtocomparewiththethreehundredandnineteenintheTenCommandments，theresultwillbeinteresting。WheretheTenCommandmentshavetwohundredandfifty-ninewordsofonesyllable，ProfessorMarchhasonlyonehundredandninety-four；overagainstthefiftytwo-syllablewordsintheTenCommandments，ProfessorMarchhassixty-five；
overagainsttheirsixwordsofthreesyllables，hehasthirty-five；overagainsttheirfourwordsoffoursyllables，heuseseighteen；andwhiletheTenCommandmentshavenowordlongerthanfoursyllables，ProfessorMarchneedsfivewordsoffivesyllablesandtwowordsofsixsyllablestoexpresshisideas。[1]
[1]Thistablewillshowthecomparisonataglance:
Syllables123456
TheCommandments259506400319
ProfessorMarch19465351852319
Thesamethingappearsinthefamiliar23dPsalm，wherethereareonehundredandnineteenwordsinall，ofwhichninety-fivearewordsofonesyllable，andonlythreeofthreesyllables，withnonelonger。IntheSermonontheMounteightytwopercent。ofthewordsinourEnglishversionarewordsofonesyllable。
Theonlypointurgednowisthatthiskindofthingmakesforstrengthinliterature。Shortwordsarestrongwords。Theyhaveasnapandagriptothemthatlongwordshavenot。Veryfewmenwouldgrowangryoverhavingastatementcalleda"prevarication"or"adisingenuousentanglementofideas，"butthereissomethingabouttheword"lie"thatsnapsinaman'sface。"Unjustifiablehypothecation"maybethesameasstealing，butitwouldneverexciteonetobecalled"anunjustifiablehypothecator"
asitdoestobecalledathief。AttheveryfoundationofthestrengthoftheliteratureoftheEnglishBiblethereliesthistendencytoshort，clear-cutwords。
Risingnowfromthisbasalelementintheliteratureoftheversion，wecometotheplacewhereitsstyleanditsideasblendinwhatwemaycallitsearnestness。Thatisitselfaliterarycharacteristic。Thereisnotalineoftriflinginthebook。Nomanwouldeverlearntriflingfromit。Ittakesitselfwithtremendousseriousness。Hereareearnestmenatwork；
tothemlifeisjoyous，butitisnojoke。Thatiswhytheelementofhumorinitissuchasmallone。Itisthere，tobesure。Manyofitssimilesareintendedtobehumorous。Afewofitsincidentsarehumorous；butithaslittleofthatelementinit，asindeedlittleofourliteraturehasthatelementmarkedlyinit。Wehaveafewexceptions。ButwhatGeorgeEliotsaysinAdamBedeistrue，thatwitisofatemporarynature，anddoesnotdealwiththedeepandmorelastingelementsinlife。TheBibleisnotasadbook。Therearechildrenatplayinit；
therearefeastsandbuoyantgatheringsfullyrecounted。Butitnevertriflesnorjests。
Soithasgivenusalanguageofgreatdignity。
LetAddisonspeakagain:"Howcoldanddeaddoesaprayerappearthatiscomposedinthemostelegantandpoliteformsofspeech，whicharenaturaltoourtongue，whenitisnotheightenedbythatsolemnityofphrasewhichmaybedrawnfromthesacredwritings。Ithasbeensaidbysomeoftheancientsthatifthegodsweretotalkwithmen，theywouldcertainlyspeakinPlato'sstyle；butIthinkwemaysay，withjustice，thatwhenmortalsconversewiththeirCreatortheycannotdoitinsoproperastyleasinthatoftheHolyScriptures。"
Asthatearnestnessoftheliteratureoftheoriginalprecludedanygreatamountofhumorinthewiderangeofitsliteraryforms，sointheKingJamesversionitprecludedanytriflingexpressions，anyplaysonwords，eventheduplicationofsuchplaysascanbefoundintheHebrewortheGreek。YouseldomfindanyturnofawordintheKingJamesversion，thoughyoudooccasionallyfinditintheHebrew。OnesuchpunningexpressionoccursinthestoryofSamsonJudgesxv:16，whereourversionreads:
"Withthejawboneofanass，heapsuponheaps，withthejawboneofanasshaveIslainathousandmen。"IntheHebrewthewordstranslated"ass"and"heaps"arevariantsofthesameword。ItcomesneartheHebrewtosay:
"Withthejawboneofanass，massesuponmasses，"andsoon。Thesetranslatorswouldnotriskreproducingsuchpunsforfearofloweringthedignityoftheirresults。Thereisadeadlyseriousnessabouttheirworkandsotheyneverlosestrengthastheygoon。
Thatearnestnessgrowsoutofasecondfactwhichmaybeemphasized——namely，thegreatnessofthethemesofBibleliterature。Hereishistory，butitisnotcastintofictionform。
Historyalwaysbecomesmoreinterestingforafirstreadingwhenitisintheformoffiction；butitalwayslosesgreatnessinthatform。TestitbyturningfromahistoryoftheAmericanrevolutionaryorcivilwartoanhistoricalnovelthatdealswiththesameperiod；orfromahistoryofScotlandtotheWaverlynovels。Insomedegreetheearnestnessofthetimeislost；thesamefactsarethere；buttheydonotloomsolarge，nordotheyseemsogreat。Sothereispowerinthefactthatthehistoricalelementsoftheversionareinstatelyformandareneversacrificedtothefictionalform。
Thesegreatthemessavetheworkfrombeinglocal。Itissuesfromlife，butfromlifeconsideredinthelarge。Thethemesofgreatliteraturearegreatenoughtomaketheirimmediatesurroundingsforgotten。"TheEnglishBibledealswiththegreatfactsandthegreatproblems。Itisfromthepointofviewofthosegreatfactsthatithandlesevencommonplacethings，andyouforgetthecommonplacenessofthethingsinthegreatnessofthedealing。TakeitsattitudetowardGod。Oneneedsthesenseofthatgreatthemetoreaditfairly。Itquietlyoverlookssecondarycauses，goesbackofthemtoGod。Partlythatwasbecausetheoriginalwriterswereignorantofsomeofthosesecondarycauses；partlythattheyknewthem，butwantedtogofartherback。Takethemostoutstandinginstance，thatoftheBookofJonah。Allitsfacts，withoutexception，canbetoldwithoutmentionofGod，ifonecaredtodoit。Buttherecouldnotbeanythinglikesogreatastoryifitistoldthatway。OneofhisbiographerssaysofLincolnthatthereisnothinginhiswholecareerwhichcallsforexplanationinotherthanapurelynaturalandhumanway。Thatistrue，ifonedoesnotcaretogoanyfartherbackthanthat。ButthegreateststorycannotbemadeoutofLincoln'slifeonthoseterms。Thereisnotmaterialenough；thelifemustbedelocalized。
Itcanbetoldwithoutthatlargerview，sothatitwillbeofinteresttoAmericaandAmericanchildren，butnotsothatitwillbeofvaluetogenerationsofmeninallcountriesandunderallcircumstancesifitistoldonthoseterms。PartofthegreatnessofScripture，fromaliterarypointofview，isthatithassuchatremendousrangeoftheme，andissavedfromamerenarrationoflocaleventsbyseeingthoseeventsinthelightoflargerconsiderations。
Letthatstandforoneofthegreatfacts。
Nowtakeoneofthegreatproblems。ThethingthatmakesJobsogreataclassicisthefactthat，whileitisdealingwithacharacter，heisstandingfortheproblemofundeservedsuffering。A
manwhohasthatbeforehim，ifhehasatallthegiftofimagination，issuretowriteinafarlargerwaythanwhenheisdealingwithamanwithboilsasthoughhewerefinallyimportant。
OnecoulddealwithJobasacharacter，anddoasmallpieceofwork。ButwhenyoudealwithJobasatype，amuchlargeropportunityoffers。
Itisthesegreatideas，astoeitherfactsorproblems，thatgivetheseriousness，theearnestnesstotheliteratureoftheBible。Menwhoexpressgreatideasinliteraryformarenotdilettanteaboutthem。OneoftheEnglishwritersjustnowprominentasanessayistisoftencountedwhimsical，trifling。Oneofhisnearfriendskeenlyresentsthatopinion，insistsinsteadthatheisdeadinearnest，serioustothelastdegree，purposefulinallhiswork。Whatmakesthatsodifficulttobelieveisthatthereisalwaysatoneofchaffinginhisessays。Heseemsalwaystobemakingfunofhimselforofotherpeople；andifheisdeadinearnesthehasthewrongstyletomakegreatliteratureorliteraturethatwilllivelong。
ItisthatearnestnessandgreatnessofthemewhichputsthetangintotheEnglishoftheBible。Coleridgesaysthat"afterreadingIsaiahortheEpistletotheHebrews，HomerandVirgilaredisgustinglytame，Miltonhimselfbarelytolerable。"Itneednotbeputquitesostronglyasthat；butthereislargewarrantoffactinthatexpression。
GoalittlefartherinthoughtoftheliterarycharacteristicsoftheBible。Noticethevarietyoftheformsinvolved。RecallProfessorMoulton'sfourcardinalpointsinliterature，allofittakingoneoftheseforms:eitherdescription，whenasceneisgiveninthewordsoftheauthor，aswhenMiltonandHomerdescribesceneswithoutpretendingtogivethewordsoftheactorsthroughout；or，secondly，presentation，whenasceneisgiveninthewordsofthosewhotookpartinit，andtheauthordoesnotappear，as，ofcourse，intheplaysofShakespeare，whenheneverappears，butwhereallhissentimentsareputinthewordsofothers。Asbetweenthosetwo，theBibleispredominantlyabookofdescription，theauthorsforthemostpartdoingthespeaking，thoughthereis，ofcourse，anelementofpresentation。ProfessorMoultongoesonwiththetwootherphasesofliteraryform:prose，movingintheregionlimitedbyfacts，ashistoryandphilosophydealonlywithwhatactuallyhasexistence；andpoetry，whichbyitsGreekoriginmeanscreativeliterature。
Heremindsusthat，howeverliteraturestarts，thesearethepointstowardwhichitmoves，thepathsittakes。AllfourofthemappearintheliteratureoftheEnglishBible。Youhavemoreofproseandlessofpoetry；butthepoetryisthere，notinthesenseofrhyme，butinthesenseofrealcreativeliterature。
AmorenaturalwayofconsideringtheliteraturehasbeenfollowedbyProfessorGardiner。
HefindsfourelementsintheliteratureoftheBible:itsnarrative，itspoetry，itsphilosophizing，anditsprophecy。Itisnotnecessaryforourpurposetogointodetailsaboutthat。
Weshallhaveallweneedwhenwerealizethat，smallasthevolumeofthebookis，ityetdoescoverallthesetypesofliterature。Itsdifferencefromotherbooksisthatitdealswithallofitssubjectssocompactly。
ItwillaccentthisfactofitsvarietyifwenotethemusicalelementintheliteratureoftheBible。
ItcomesinpartfromtheformwhichmarkstheoriginalHebrewpoetry。Ithasbecomefamiliartosaythatitisnotoftherhymingkind。
Ratheritismarkedbythebalancingofphrasesorofideas，sothatitrunsincoupletsorintripletsthroughout。InthePsalmsthereisalwaysabalanceofclauses。Theyaresometimesadversative；sometimestheyaresimplycumulative。Takeseveralinstancesfromthe119thPsalm，eachacompletestanzaofHebrewpoetry；verse15"Iwillmeditateinthyprecepts，andhaverespectuntothyways"；orthisverse23，"Princesalsodidsitandspeakagainstme:butthyservantdidmeditateinthystatutes"；orthisverse45，"AndIwillwalkatliberty:forIseekthyprecepts"；
verse51，"Theproudhavehadmegreatlyinderision:yethaveInotinclinedfromthylaw。"
Eachpresentsaparalleloracontrastofideas。
ThatisthecharacteristicmarkofHebrewpoetry。
ItresultsinakindofrhythmoftheEnglishwhichmakesitveryeasytosettomusic。
Someofitcanbesung，thoughforsomeofitonlythethunderistherightaccompaniment。
Butitisnotsimplyinthebalanceofphrasesthatthemusicalelementappears。Sometimesitisinanaturalbutrhythmicconsecutionofideas。The35thchapterofIsaiah，forexample，isnotpoeticintheHebrew，yetitisremarkablymusicalintheEnglish。Readitaloudfromourfamiliarversion:
"Thewildernessandthesolitaryplaceshallbegladforthem；andthedesertshallrejoice，andblossomastherose。Itshallblossomabundantly，andrejoiceevenwithjoyandsinging；thegloryofLebanonshallbegivenuntoit，theexcellencyofCarmelandSharon；theyshallseethegloryoftheLord，andtheexcellencyofourGod。Strengthenyetheweakhands，andconfirmthefeebleknees。Saytothemthatareofafearfulheart，Bestrong，fearnot:behold，yourGodwillcomewithvengeance，evenGodwitharecompense；Hewillcomeandsaveyou。Thentheeyesoftheblindshallbeopened，andtheearsofthedeafshallbeunstopped。Thenshallthelamemanleapasahart，andthetongueofthedumbsing:forinthewildernessshallwatersbreakout，andstreamsinthedesert。Andtheparchedgroundshallbecomeapool，andthethirstylandspringsofwater:inthehabitationofdragons，whereeachlay，shallbegrasswithreedsandrushes。Andahighwayshallbethere，andaway，anditshallbecalledThewayofholiness；theuncleanshallnotpassoverit；butitshallbeforthose:thewayfaringmen，thoughfools，shallnoterrtherein。Nolionshallbethere，noranyravenousbeastshallgoupthereon，itshallnotbefoundthere；buttheredeemedshallwalkthere:andtheransomedoftheLordshallreturn，andcometoZionwithsongsandeverlastingjoyupontheirheads；theyshallobtainjoyandgladness，andsorrowandsighingshallfleeaway。"
Thatcanbesettomusicasitstands。Youcatchthesameforminthefamiliar13thchapterofICorinthians，thechapteronCharity。
Itcouldbealmostsungthroughout。ThismusicalelementisinsharpcontrastwithmuchelseintheScripture，wherenecessitydoesnotpermitthatliteraryform。Forexample，intheEpistletotheHebrews，whichisargumentativethroughout，thereisnopartexceptitsquotationswhichhaseverbeensettomusicforusesinChristianworship。Itisruggedandprotractedinitsform，andhasnomusicalelementaboutit。ThecontrastwithintheScriptureofthemusicalandtheunmusicalisaverymarkedone。
AddtothethoughtoftheearnestnessandvarietyoftheScriptureawordaboutthesimplicityofitsliteraryexpression。Thereisnothingmeretriciousinitsstyle。Thereisnoefforttosayathingfinely。Thetranslatorshaveavoidedalltemptationtogrowdramaticinreproducingtheoriginal。ContrasttheactualEnglishBiblewiththenarrativesorotherliteraryworksthathavebeenbuiltupoutofit。
ReadallthattheBibletellsaboutthelossofParadise，andthenreadMilton's"ParadiseLost。"NearlyalloftheconceptionsofMilton'sgreatestpoemarebuiltupfrombriefScripturereferences。ButMiltonbecomessubtleinhisanalysisofmotives；heenlargesgreatlyonevents。Scriptureneverdoesthat。Itgivesusveryfewanalysesofmotivefromfirsttolast。
ThatisnotthemethodnorthepurposeofScripture。Ittellsthestoryintermsthatmoveonthemiddlelevelofspeechandthemiddlelevelofunderstanding，whileMiltonlaborswithit，complicatesit，entanglingitwithcountlessdetailswhicharetotheScriptureunimportant。
Itgoesstraighttothesimpleandfundamentalelementsintheaccount。Takeamoremodernillustration。ProbablythefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning's"Saul。"ItisbuiltoutofoneincidentandasingleexpressionintheBiblestoryofSaulandDavid。TheincidentisDavid'sbeingcalledfromhissheeptoplayhisharpandtosingbeforeSaulinthefitsofgloomwhichovercomehim；theexpressionisthesinglesayingthatDavidlovedSaul。Takingthatincidentandthatexpression，Browningwritesabeautifulpoemwithmanydecorativedetails，withkeenanalysisofmotive，withlongaccountsofthewayDavidfeltwhenherenderedhisservice，andhowhisheartleapedorsang。ImaginefindingBrowning'sfamiliarphrasesinScripture:
"Thelilieswetwineroundtheharp-chords，lesttheysnapneaththestressofthenoontide——
thosesunbeamslikeswords"；"Oh，thewildjoyofliving!""Spring'sarrowysummons，"going"straighttotheaim。"ThatisverywellforBrowning，butitisnottheScriptureway；itistoocomplicated。AllthattheBiblesayscanbesaidanywhere；Browning's"Saul"couldnotpossiblybereproducedinotherlanguages。Itwouldneedaglossaryoracommentarytomakeitintelligible。ItisbeautifulEnglish，andgreatbecauseithastakenagreatideaandclotheditinworthyexpression。ButthesimplicityoftheBiblenarrativeappearsinsharpcontrastwithit。Inmychildhoodmyfatherusedtotellofamanwhopreachedonthecreation，andwithgreatdetailandmuchelaborationanddecorationtoldthestoryofcreationasitissuggestedinthefirstchapterofGenesis。Whenitwasoverheaskedanoldlistenerwhathethoughtofhiseffort，andtheonlycommentwas，"Youcan'tbeatMoses!"Well，itwouldbedifficulttosurpasstheseBiblewritersinsimplicity，ingoingstraighttothepoint，andmakingthatplainandleavingit。WheretheBibletakesahundredwordstotellthewholestoryBrowningtakesseveralhundredlinestotellit。
ThesimplicityoftheBibleislargelybecausethereissolittleabstractreasoninginit。Havingfewornoabstractideas，itdoesnotneedabstractwords。Rather，itgroupsitswholemovementaroundcharacters。Threeeminentliterarymenwereonceaskedtoselectthebestreviewsofanovelwhichhadjustappeared。Oneofthethreestatementswhichtheyratedhighestsaidofthebookthatit"achievesthetruepurposeofanovel，whichistomakecomprehensiblethephilosophyoflifeofawholecommunityorraceofmenbyshowingushowthatphilosophyaccordswiththeimpulsesandyearningsoftypicalindividuals。"FewphrasescouldbemoreforeigntoBiblephrasesthanthose。Butthereisvaluablesuggestioninitformorethantheliteratureofthenovel。ThatisexactlywhattheScripturedoes。Itsreasoningiskeptconcretebythefactthatitisdealingwithcharactersmorethanmovements，andsoitcanspeakinconcretewords。Thatalwaysmakesforsimplicity。
Therearetwoelementscommontothehistoryofliteratureaboutwhichaspecialwordisdeserved。Imeanthedramaticandtheoratoricalelements。Thedifferencebetweenthedramaticandtheoratoricalischieflythatindramaticwritingthereisasceneinwhichmanytakepart，andintheoratoricalwritingonemanpresentsthewholescene，howeverdramaticthesurroundings。ThereisnotagreatdealofeitherintheScripture。Thereisnoformaldrama，nothingthatcouldbeactedasitstands。Itistrue，tobesure，thatJobcanbecastintodramaticformbyasufficientmanipulation，butitisquiteunlikely，inspiteofsomescholars，thatitwasevermeanttobeaformaldramaforaction。Itdoesmoveincyclesintheappearanceofitscharacters，anditdoescloseinawaytotakeonebacktothebeginning。Ithasmanymarksofthedrama，andyetitseemsveryunlikelythatitwaseverpreparedwiththatdefinitelyinmind。Ontheotherhand，amostlikelyexplanationoftheSongofSolomonisthatitisashortdramawhichappearsinourBiblewithoutanycharacternames，asthoughyoushouldtake"Hamlet"andprintitcontinuously，indicatinginnowaythechangeofspeakersnoranymovement。Theefforthasbeenmeasurablysuccessfultodiscoverandinsertthenamesoftheprobablespeakers。ThatseemstobetheoneexceptiontothegeneralstatementthatthereisnoformaldramaintheScripture。Buttherearesomeverystrikingdramaticepisodes，andtheyaremadedramaticforusverylargelybythewaytheyaretold。
OneoftheearlierisinIKingsxviii:21-39。Itisalmostimpossibletoreaditaloudwithoutdramaticexpression:
"AndElijahcameuntoallthepeople，andsaid，Howlonghaltyebetweentwoopinions?iftheLordbeGod，followhim:butifBaal，thenfollowhim。
Andthepeopleansweredhimnotaword。ThensaidElijahuntothepeople，I，evenIonly，remainaprophetoftheLord；butBaal'sprophetsarefourhundredandfiftymen。Letthemthereforegiveustwobullocks；andletthemchooseonebullockforthemselves，andcutitinpieces，andlayitonwood，andputnofireunder；andIwilldresstheotherbullock，andlayitonwood，andputnofireunder:
andcallyeonthenameofyourgods，andIwillcallonthenameoftheLord:andtheGodthatanswerethbyfire，lethimbeGod。Andallthepeopleansweredandsaid，Itiswellspoken。AndElijahsaiduntotheprophetsofBaal，Chooseyouonebullockforyourselves，anddressitfirst；foryearemany；andcallonthenameofyourgods，butputnofireunder。Andtheytookthebullockwhichwasgiventhem，andtheydressedit，andcalledonthenameofBaalfrommorninguntilnoon，saying，OBaal，hearus。Buttherewasnovoice，noranythatanswered。Andtheyleapeduponthealtarwhichwasmade。Anditcametopassatnoon，thatElijahmockedthem，andsaid，Cryaloud；forheisagod；
eitherheistalking，orheispursuing，or，heisinajourney，orperadventurehesleepeth，andmustbeawakened。Andtheycriedaloud，andcutthemselvesaftertheirmannerwithknivesandlancets，tillthebloodgushedoutuponthem。Anditcametopass，whenmiddaywaspast，andtheyprophesieduntilthetimeoftheofferingoftheeveningsacrifice，thattherewasneithervoice，noranytoanswer，noranythatregarded。AndElijahsaiduntoallthepeople，Comenearuntome。Andallthepeoplecamenearuntohim。AndherepairedthealtaroftheLordthatwasbrokendown。AndElijahtooktwelvestones，accordingtothenumberofthetribesofthesonsofJacob，untowhomthewordoftheLordcame，saying，Israelshallbethyname。AndwiththestoneshebuiltanaltarinthenameoftheLord；andhemadeatrenchaboutthealtar，asgreataswouldcontaintwomeasuresofseed。Andheputthewoodinorder，andcutthebullockinpieces，andlaidhimonthewood，andsaid，Fillfourbarrelswithwater，andpouritontheburntsacrifice，andonthewood。Andhesaid，Doitthesecondtime。Andtheydiditthesecondtime。Andhesaid，Doitthethirdtime。Andtheydiditthethirdtime。
Andthewaterranroundaboutthealtar；andhefilledthetrenchalsowithwater。Anditcametopassatthetimeoftheofferingoftheeveningsacrifice，thatElijahtheprophetcamenear，andsaid，LordGodofAbraham，Isaac，andofIsrael，letitbeknownthisdaythatthouartGodinIsrael，andthatIamthyservant，andthatIhavedoneallthesethingsatthyword。Hearme，OLord，hearme，thatthispeoplemayknowthatthouarttheLordGod，andthatthouhastturnedtheirheartbackagain。
ThenthefireoftheLordfell，andconsumedtheburntsacrifice，andthewood，andthestones，andthedust，andlickedupthewaterthatwasinthetrench。Andwhenallthepeoplesawit，theyfellontheirfaces:andtheysaid，TheLord，heistheGod；theLord，heistheGod。"
Thatisnotsimplyadramaticevent；thatisastrikingtellingofit。Itismorethananarrative。
Innarrativeliteraturethesceneisacceptedasalreadyconstructed。Indramaticliteraturesuchappealismadetotheimaginationthatthereaderreconstructsthesceneforhimself。
WearenottoldinthishowElijahfelt，orhowheacted，norhowthepeopleasawholelooked，northesettingofthescene；butifonereadsitwithcareitmakesitsownsetting。Thesceneconstructsitself。
ThedramaticstyledoesnotprevailatmostimportantpointsoftheScripture，becauseitisafictitiousstyleforthepresentingoftruth。Itinevitablysuggestssuperficiality。Thingsactuallydonothappeninlifeastheydoindrama。
Oneofourlatestbiographerssaysthatascientifichistorianisalwayssuspiciousofdramaticevents。[1]Theymaybetrue，buttheyaremoreliabletobeafterthoughts，likethebrightanswerswecouldhavemadetoouropponentsifwehadonlythoughtofthematthetime。Youneverlosethesenseofunrealityintheveryconstructionofadrama。Lifecannotbecrowdedintotwoorthreehours，andjusticedoesnotcomeoutasthedramamakesitdo。
SothatatmostimportantpointsoftheScripturedramaticwritingdoesnotappear。TheaccountofthecarryingawayintocaptivityofthechildrenofIsraelisatnopointdramatic，thoughyoucanseeinstantlywhatagreatopportunitytherewasforit。Itissimplynarrative。
Itisnoticeablethatnoneoftheaccountsofthecrucifixionisatalldramatic。Theyareallsimplynarrative。Theimaginationdoesnotimmediatelyconjureupthescene。Theremaybetworeasonsforthat。Oneisthatthereareinvolvedseveralhoursinwhichthereisnoactionrecorded。Theotheristhatbythetimetheaccountswerewrittentheactualeventsweresubmergedinimportancebytheirunwordedmeaning。TheaccountoftheconversionofPaul，ontheotherhand，briefasitis，hasatleastminordramaticelementsinit。Onthewhole，theOldTestamentisfarmoredramaticthantheNew。
[1]McGiffert，LifeofMartinLuther。
ThereisevenlessoftheoratoricalelementintheScripture。Thereis，tobesure，aconsiderableamountofquotation，andmendospeakatsomelength，butseldomoratorically。Thepropheticalwritingsaregenerallytoofragmentarytosuggestoratory，andthequotationsintheNewTestament，especiallyfromthepreachingofourLord，areevidentlyforthemostpartexcerptsfromlongeraddressesthanaregiven。
TherearefewofthestatementsofPaul，asinthe26thchapterofActs，whichcouldbedeliveredoratorically；buthereagaintheOldTestamentismoremarkedthantheNew。Theearliestspecimenoforatoryisalsooneofthefinestspecimens。Itisinthe44thchapterofGenesis，andistheaccountofJudah'sreplytohisunrecognizedbrotherJoseph:
"ThenJudahcamenearuntohim，andsaid，Omylord，letthyservant，Ipraythee，speakawordinmylord'sears，andletnotthineangerburnagainstthyservant:forthouartevenasPharoah。Mylordaskedhisservants，saying，Haveyeafather，orabrother?Andwesaiduntomylord，Wehaveafather，anoldman，andachildofhisoldage，alittleone；andhisbrotherisdead，andhealoneisleftofhismother，andhisfatherlovethhim。Andthousaidstuntothyservants，Bringhimdownuntome，thatImaysetmineeyesuponhim。Andwesaiduntomylord，Theladcannotleavehisfather:
forifheshouldleavehisfather，hisfatherwoulddie。Andthousaidstuntothyservant，Exceptyouryoungestbrothercomedownwithyou，yeshallseemyfacenomore。Anditcametopasswhenwecameupuntothyservantmyfather，wetoldhimthewordsofmylord。Andourfathersaid，Goagainandbuyusalittlefood。Andwesaid，Wecannotgodown；ifouryoungestbrotherbewithus，thenwewillgodown:forwemaynotseetheman'sface，exceptouryoungestbrotherbewithus。Andthyservantmyfathersaiduntous，Yeknowthatmywifebaremetwosons:andtheonewentoutfromme，andIsaid，Surelyheistorninpieces；andI
sawhimnotsince:andifyetakethisalsofromme，andmischiefbefallhim，yeshallbringdownmygrayhairswithsorrowtothegrave。NowthereforewhenIcometothyservantmyfather，andtheladbenotwithus；seeingthathislifeisboundupinthelad'slife；itshallcometopass，whenheseeththattheladisnotwithus，thathewilldie:andthyservantsshallbringdownthegrayhairsofthyservantourfatherwithsorrowtothegrave。Forthyservantbecamesuretyfortheladuntomyfather，saying，IfIbringhimnotuntothee，thenIshallbeartheblametomyfatherforever。Nowtherefore，Ipraythee，letthyservantabideinsteadoftheladabondmantomylord；andlettheladgoupwithhisbrethren。ForhowshallIgouptomyfather，andtheladbenotwithme?lestperadventureI
seetheevilthatshallcomeonmyfather。"
Thatispureoratory，anditisgreatlyhelpedbytheEnglishexpressionofit。HereourKingJamesversionisfinerthaneitheroftheotherlaterversions，asindeeditisinalmostallthesesectionswherethephraseologyisimportantfortheear。
Weneednotgofarther。Partoftheseoutstandingcharacteristicscometoourversionfromtheoriginal，andmightappearinanyversionoftheBible。YetnowheredoeventheseoriginalcharacteristicscometosuchprominenceasintheKingJamestranslation；anditaddstothemthosethatarepeculiartoitself。
LECTUREIV
THEINFLUENCEOFTHEKINGJAMESVERSION
ONENGLISHLITERATURE
THEBibleisabook-makingbook。Itisliteraturewhichprovokesliterature。
ItwouldbeapleasuretosurveythewholefieldofliteratureinthebroadestsenseandtonotethecreativepoweroftheKingJamesversion；
butthatismanifestlyimpossiblehere。
Certainlimitationsmustbefranklymade。
Leaveononeside，therefore；theimmensebodyofpurelyreligiousliterature，sermons，expositions，commentaries，which，ofcourse，arethedirectproductoftheBible。Nobookevercausedsomuchdiscussionaboutitselfanditsteaching。Thatisbecauseitdealswiththefundamentalhumaninterest，religion。ItstillremainstruethatthelargestsingledepartmentofsubstantialbooksfromourEnglishpressesisintherealmofreligion，andafterthepurelyrecreativeliteraturetheyareprobablymostwidelyread。Yet，theyarenotwhatwemeanatthistimebytheliteraryresultoftheEnglishBible。
Leaveononesidealsotheverylargebodyofpoliticalandhistoricalwriting。MuchofitshowsBibleinfluence。Inthenatureofthecase，anyhistorianofthepastthreehundredyearsmustoftenrefertoandquotefromtheEnglishBible，andmustnoteitsinfluence。AnentirestudycouldbedevotedtotheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonGreenorBancroftorFreemanorPrescott——itsinfluenceontheirmatterandtheirmanner。Anothercouldbegiventoitsinfluenceonpoliticalwritingandspeaking。Nogreatoratorofthedaywouldfailusofmaterial，andthegreatpoliticalpapersandorationsofthepastwouldonlywidenthefield。Yetwhilesomeofthispoliticalandhistoricalwritingisrecognizedasliterature，mostofitcanbeleftoutofourthoughtjustnow。
ItmayaidinthelimitingofthefieldtoacceptwhatDeanStanleysaidinanotherconnection:
"Byliterature，Imeanthosegreatworksthatriseaboveprofessionalorcommonplaceusesandtakepossessionofthemindofawholenationorawholeage。"[1]Thisisoneofthematterswhichweallunderstanduntilwebegintodefineit；weknowwhatwemeanuntilsomeoneasksus。
[1]ThoughtsthatBreathe。
Theliteratureofwhichwearethinkinginthisnarrowersenseisinthesphereofartratherthaninthesphereofdistinctachievement。DeQuincey'sdivisionisfamiliar:theliteratureofknowledge，andtheliteratureofpower。Thefunctionofthefirstistoteach；thefunctionofthesecondistomove。ProfessorDowdenpointsoutthatbetweenthetwoliesathirdfield，theliteratureofcriticism。Itseeksbothtoteachandtomove。OurconcernischieflywithDeQuincey'ssecondfield——theliteratureofpower。Inthefirstfield，theliteratureofknowledge，mustlieallhistory，withHumeandGibbon；allscience，withDarwinandFiske；
allphilosophy，withSpencerandWilliamJames；