PREFACE. THE Version of the Apocrypha which is here presented to the Reader forms the last portion of the Revision of the Authorised Version of 1611. The present work, owing to various circumstances, has been somewhat long delayed. It will be found, however, to have been executed carefully and faithfully, though it was of necessity intrusted to small Committees formed out of the two Companies of Revisers. The Revision of the Authorised Version of the Apocrypha was included in the arrangement between the Companies and the Representatives of the Presses of Oxford and Cambridge, and was to be proceeded with as soon as the other and greater portions of the work were concluded. No division of labour in regard to the Apocrypha was formally made between the two Companies, but as it appeared clearly desirable that there should be no unnecessary delay in the revision, there was an understanding between the Companies that the New Testament Company should commence the work as soon as the Revision of the Authorised Version of the New Testament was completed and published. For this, preparation was made by the New Testament Company as their work was drawing to its close, and in the following manner. It was resolved (March 21, 1879) that, after the conclusion of the Revision of the Authorised Version of the New Testament, the Company should be divided into three Committees, to be called the London, Westminster, and Cambridge Committees, for the purpose of beginning the Revision of the Apocrypha. The London Committee was to consist of the following members :—The Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol (Dr. Ellicott), the Bishop of Salisbury (Dr. Moberly), the Bishop of St. Andrews (Dr. Wordsworth), the Dean of Rochester (Dr. Scott), the Dean of Lichfield (Dr. Bickersteth), the Master of the Temple (Dr. Vaughan), Rev. Principal Angus, and Rev. Prebendary Humphry. This Committee was to take the Book of Ecclesiasticus. The Westminster Committee was to consist of the following members :-The Archbishop of Dublin (Dr. Trench), the Dean of Westminster (Dr. Stanley), the Archdeacon of Dublin (Dr. Lee), the Archdeacon of Oxford (Dr. Palıner), Rev. Dr. Scrivener, Rev. Principal Brown, Rev. Principal Newth, and Rev. Dr. Vance Smith. This Committee was to take the First Book of Maccabees. The Books of Tobit and Judith were afterwards, by special arrangement with the Old Testament Company, undertaken by this Committee. The Cambridge Committee was to consist of the following members :- The Bishop of Durham (Dr. Lightfoot), the Dean of Lincoln (Mr. Blakesley), Rev. Professor Hort, Rev. Professor Kennedy, Rev. Professor Westcott, Rev. Dr. Milligan, Rev. Dr. Moulton, and Rev. Dr. Roberts. This Committee was to take the Book of Wisdom and the Second Book of Maccabees. In connexion with the foregoing resolution it was resolved at the final meeting of the Company, on Thursday, November 11, 1880(1) that the decisions be arrived at by simple majorities; (2) that the successive portions of the work when printed be forwarded to the members of the other two Committees. A third resolution was passed constituting the Rev. Dr. Troutbeck the General Secretary of the three Committees, and, as such, responsible for the printing of the portions of the work as they were finished; but the latter part of this resolution was modified, and the whole of the printing was carried on at the University Press, Oxford. The London Committee, to which the Revision of the |