Most accessible pre-Wycliffe translation?

[Qoeleth]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

 

[PJH_74]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

I’m actually kind of intrigued as to why you are reading these Bibles. If memory serves they are translations from the not so accurate Latin Vulgate. I’m kind of assuming it is for historical interest. Anyway, no judgment here, just honestly would like to hear what draws you to these translations.

 

[Qoeleth]

I’m actually kind of intrigued as to why you are reading these Bibles. If memory serves they are translations from the not so accurate Latin Vulgate. I’m kind of assuming it is for historical interest. Anyway, no judgment here, just honestly would like to hear what draws you to these translations.

I find it keeps my interest in Scripture to read different translations- especially if the wording is a bit challenging! And, it is also a great way of expanding one’s knowledge of language.

Thanks to this practice, I am now pretty comfortable in reading Latin and Middle English. If I can find a very early Middle English it will be a small jump (I hope) to reading Old English.

 

[patrick457]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

Not exactly a translation, but have you tried your hand at the Ormulum?

 

[Qoeleth]

Not exactly a translation, but have you tried your hand at the Ormulum?

Thanks for the tip- it is exactly what I was looking for. It’s great! I spent a few hours reading online editions, and will see if I can order an affordable copy.

 

[PJM]

=Qoeleth;9714348]I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

The Douay Rheims I think pre dates it

drbo.org/

God Bless,
Pat

 

[patrick457]

The Douay Rheims I think pre dates it

drbo.org/

God Bless,
Pat

Eh, the Rheims NT was only published in 1582, with the Douai OT following about 28 years later. The Wycliffite Bible appeared from 1382 to 1395. (And BTW, that link is actually of the Challoner version.)

 

[bitznbitez]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

How difficult depends on how fluently you speak the anglo saxon language of the 900s but I have been staring at this the last several days :

archive.org/stream/gothicanglosax00ulfi#page/n45/mode/2up

 

[Mystophilus]

I was wondering if anyone could point me in the direction of an English translation of the Scripture (not necessarily complete), that preceded the Wycliffe Bible, BUT is not so difficult to read as the Wessex Gospels?

I can read the Wycliffe translation comfortably, but find the Wessex Gospels too difficult at the moment- and would like to find something ‘transitional’ between Middle English and Old English…maybe from about 1000.

There is Rolle’s Psalter, in ME and Latin.