"Tyndale's Messiah"

In 1993 I checked Handel's Messiah: how much of Jennens' libretto was recognizably Tyndale? The results lay buried until I had an e-mail from the BBC, asking for information on how composers set Tyndale's words to music...

(I don't think composers did - setting an heretic's words to music could seriously damage your health! But Tyndale's work underpins the 1549 'Great' Bible, from which Tudor anthems like Orlando Gibbons' 'This is the Record of John' are taken, and that in turn underpins the 'Authorized' or 'King James' version.)

The BBC soon lost interest, but having spent so long looking for it I thought I might as well post it here.

Tyndale translated the New Testament (twice!) but only the first quarter of the Old Testament, plus the Book of Jonah. His execution robs us of Tyndale versions of the Psalms, and most of the Old Testament prophesies. Fortunately, he translated some of Isiah and Malachi's prophecies for use as epistle readings.

Judging the match is a matter of opinion: even I've changed my mind since 1993! Tenses and pronouns change, words are inserted, words are deleted, sometimes the right words are in the wrong order. For now, I'll leave you to see what you recognize!

    Part 1

  1. Overture
  2. Isiah xl 1-3: no Tyndale version.
  3. Isiah xl 4: no Tyndale version.
  4. Isiah xl 5: no Tyndale version.
  5. Haggai ii 6-7: no Tyndale version. Malachi iii 1: Suddenly shall the Lord whom ye seek, come to his temple, and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire. Behold he cometh saith the Lord Sabaoth.
  6. Malachi iii 2: Who shall endure in the day of his coming, or who shall stand to behold him? For he is as trying-fire...
  7. Malachi iii 3: ...and shall purify the sons of Levi. And they shall bring offering unto the Lord of righteousness.
  8. Isiah vii 14 = Matthew i 23: Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel... God with us.
  9. Isiah xl 9: no Tyndale version. Isiah lx 1: Up and receive light Jerusalem: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is up over thee.
  10. Isiah lx 2-3: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick mist the nations. But the Lord shall rise as the sun over thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the heathen shall walk in thy light, and the kings in the brightness that is risen over thee.
  11. Isiah ix 2: no Tyndale version.
  12. Isiah ix 6: no Tyndale version.
  13. Pastoral Symphony
  14. Luke ii 8-9: There were shepherds abiding in the field and watching their flock by night. And lo: the angel of the Lord stood hard by them, and the brightness of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid.
  15. Luke ii 10-11: But the angel said unto them: Be not afraid. For behold, I bring you tidings of great joy that shall come to all the people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a saviour which is Christ the Lord.
  16. Luke ii 13: And straightway there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly soldiers, lauding God and saying:
  17. Luke ii 14: Glory to God on high, and peace on the earth: and unto men rejoicing.
  18. Zechariah ix 9-10: no Tyndale version.
  19. Isiah xxxv 5-6: no Tyndale version.
  20. Isiah xl 11: no Tyndale version. Matthew xi 28-29: Come unto me all ye that labour and are laden and I will save you. Take my yoke on you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
  21. Matthew xi 30: My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

    Part 2

  1. John i 29: Behold the lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
  2. Isiah liii 3: He was despised and cast out of men's company, and one that had suffered sorrow, and had experience of infirmity. Isiah l 6: no Tyndale version.
  3. Isiah liii 4-5: Truly he took upon him our diseases, and bare our sorrows. He was wounded for our transgression, and bruised for our iniquities. The correction that brought us peace was on him...
  4. Isiah liii 5: ...and with his stripes we were healed.
  5. Isiah liii 6: And we went astray as sheep, and turned every man his own way: and the Lord put on him the wickedness of us all.
  6. Psalm xxii 7: no Tyndale version.
  7. Psalm xxii 8: no Tyndale version.
  8. Psalm lxix 21: no Tyndale version.
  9. Lamentations i 12: no Tyndale version.
  10. Isiah liii 8: He is taken from the earth of living men: for my people's transgression he was plagued.
  11. Psalm xvi 10: no Tyndale version.
  12. Psalm xxiv 7-10: no Tyndale version.
  13. Hebrews i 5: Unto which of the angels said he at any time: Thou art my son, this day begat I thee?
  14. Hebrews i 6: All the angels of God shall worship him.
  15. Psalm lxviii 18: no Tyndale version.
  16. Psalm lxviii 11: no Tyndale version.
  17. Romans x 15: How beautiful are the feet of them which bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.
  18. Romans x 18: Their sound went out into all  lands: and their words into the ends of the world.
  19. Psalm ii 1-2: no Tyndale version.
  20. Psalm ii 3: no Tyndale version.
  21. Psalm ii 4: no Tyndale version.
  22. Psalm ii 9: no Tyndale version.
  23. Revelation xix 6: Alleluia, for God omnipotent reigneth. xi 15: The kingdoms of this world are our Lord's and his Christ's, and he shall reign for evermore. xix 16: King of kings, and lord of lords

    Part 3

  1. Job xix 25-26: no Tyndale version. I Corinthians xv 20: But now is Christ risen from death, ...the first fruits of them that slept.
  2. I Corinthians xv 21-22: By a man came death, and by a man came resurrection from death. For as in Adam all die: even so by Christ, shall all be made alive.
  3. I Corinthians xv 51-52: Behold I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep: but we shall all be changed, and that in a moment, and in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet...
  4. I Corinthians xv 52-53: The trumpet shall blow and the dead shall rise incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility: and this mortal must put on immortality.
  5. I Corinthians xv 54: Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: Death is consumed up into victory.
  6. I Corinthians xv 55-56: Death where is thy sting? Hell where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law.
  7. I Corinthians xv 57: But thanks be unto God, which hath given us victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.
  8. Romans viii 31: If God be on our side: who can be against us? 33-34: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's chosen? it is God that justifieth: who then shall condemn? it is Christ which is dead, yea rather which is risen again, which is also on the right hand of God, and maketh intercession for us.
  9. Revelation v 12-13: Worthy is the lamb that was killed (and hast redeemed us by thy blood) to receive power, and riches and wisdom, and strength, and honour and glory, and blessing. Blessing, honour, glory and power, be unto him, that sitteth upon the seat, and unto the lamb for evermore.
  10. Amen
Biblical material from:

Prof. David Daniell (Editor): Tyndale's New Testament. William Tyndale's 1534 translation, in modern spelling. Yale University Press, 1989.

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