The Common Places

26 But we must note well, that in the Greek translation, ¹the seventy interpreters do differ from our numbers, or from the numbers that are had in the Hebrew verity: which thing (saith Augustine in his 15. book De civitate Dei) we should not judge to be done because the Hebrews be liars, or that they corrupted their books: seeing he thinketh it may not be granted, that all the Jews, so many as wrote, could conspire in such sort together, as all their copies were falsified. Which reason let them note, which so greatly blame the Hebrew books of falsehood, lying, and corruption. But Augustine affirmeth, that this was not done by the fault of the interpreters, as if they had meant to keep the truth secret from the nations, but that it came by the oversight of the writers of their translation, which may soon be deceived in describing of numbers, as we see by daily experience. For since that numbers appear to be a thing of no great importance, they are not carefully; nay rather they are negligently looked unto. But in other things, where the seventy interpreters either seem to translate otherwise, than is in the Hebrew, or do add any thing for exposition sake; that he thinketh was done by the power of prophecy, which directed them. Whereof see what Jerome saith; But to come to our computation of years, thou mayest perceive, that hereof it comes to pass, that there is a difference between the Hebrews account and ours, as touching the years since the beginning of the world: because they of old time followed also the description of the seventy interpreters. And the Hebrews followed the whole history, ²as they themselves have it, with whom we may agree in all those things, which are not prejudicial at all unto Christ, and the true worshipping of him. But that the Greek translation, which now taketh place, is not that which the seventy interpreters made; it is noted upon the epistle to the Romans, the 11. chapter, and 26, verse, in these words: There shall come out of Zion.

26 But we must note well, that in the Gréeke translation, ¹the seuentie interpretours doo differ from our numbers, or from the numbers that are had in the Hebrue veritie: which thing (saith Augustine in his 15. booke De ciuitate Dei) wée should not iudge to be doon bicause the Hebrues be liers, or that they corrupted their bookes: séeing he thinketh it may not be granted, that all the Iewes, so manie as wrote, could conspire in such sort togither, as all their copies were falsified. Which reason let them note, which so greatlie blame the Hebrue bookes of falshood, lieng, and corruption. But Augustine affirmeth, that this was not doone by the fault of the interpretours, as if they had ment to kéepe the truth secret from the nations, but that it came by the ouersight of the writers of their translation, which may soone be deceiued in describing of numbers, as we sée by dailie experience. For since that numbers appéere to be a thing of no great importance, they are not carefullie; naie rather they are negligentlie lookt vnto. But in other things, where the seuentie interpretours either séeme to translate otherwise, than is in the Hebrue, or doo adde anie thing for exposition sake; that he thinketh was doone by the power of prophesie, which directed them. Wherof sée what Ierom saith; But to come to our computation of yéeres, thou maiest perceiue, that hereof it coms to passe, that there is a difference betwéene the Hebrues account and ours, as touching the yéeres since the beginning of the world: bicause they of old time followed also the description of the seuentie interpretours. And the Hebrues followed the whole historie,