Aside from the title – “Turn, Turn, Turn” – Pete Seeger wrote 6 words. Solomon wrote the other 173. Yet , today, it’s probably the Byrds’ cover version that’s more famous than either! There has never been a chart-topper with older lyrics than this song. Yet, of all Scripture, why have these words from […]
– “History repeats itself.” – “What goes around comes around.” – “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Anyone who lives long enough will observe a relentless circularity to life. That was certainly Solomon’s experience. And it bred in him a desperate world-weariness. Here’s how he began his spiritual journal: “4 One […]
If you’re new to the King’s English, welcome! I just thought I’d draw your attention to a few things to help you into the blog. First of all, I’ve written a little evangelistic booklet which distills the blog into 12 short chapters. We go from Genesis to Revelation on a whistle-stop bible tour with Jesus […]
In Proverbs we heard the wisdom of Solomon, here in Ecclesiastes we listen in on his despair. “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” (Ecclesiastes 1:1-2) So begins the spiritual journal of the richest, wisest and most famous […]
This phrase is biblical in origin, but distilled through the poetry of Samuel Butler: “Love is a Boy, by Poets styl’d, Then Spare the Rod, and spill the Child.” In 1662 “spill” was an alternative spelling for “spoil.” But it seems that Butler relied on a yet more ancient poet. In 1377 William Langland wrote: […]
For those who read via RSS feed you may be unaware of two new “King’s English” adventures. (See the new home page). We’ve produced a video in which I say 100+ King James phrases to camera (in rhyming couplets of course!) The new high definition version can be found here. Feel free to use in […]
Why doesn’t God simply forgive us of our sins? Why the mess and the agony of the cross? Why the elaborate nature of atonement – prefigured through millions of animal deaths, and then purchased by the death of Christ Himself? Surely God could go to our sin folder, hit “Select all” and drag it into the […]
This is many people’s favourite Scripture. It was the verse written by my mother into my confirmation bible: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:4-5) I wonder what approach you take to the […]
We’ve seen Job and the Psalms, now the books of “wisdom literature” continue as we turn to the book of Proverbs. Here we have a long and colourful fireside chat. It’s the words of a father to his son. Verse 1 introduces us to the father: “The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king […]
King's English – the poem
By Glen on May 13th, 2011
108 Biblical Phrases with references. (Video here). God forbid the powers that be Forgetting the begetting of the KJV It’s put words in our mouth for 400 years, Turned the world upside down , so here’s my three cheers. As a sign of the times , I’ll sing its praises, Shout from the rooftops one […]