The Bible, King James Version, Complete

Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.9

Word count: 4.5M words
Chapters: 452

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Bible, King James Version, CompleteAuthor: ,Language: English, Class: BS: Philosophy, Psychology, Religion: Christianity: The Bible, Old and New Testament, Release Date: Apr 1, 1992

Editor's review

This is the complete electronic text of the King James Version of the Bible, released by Project Gutenberg as a public-domain book. For general readers it is not only a religious classic but also a key source text for understanding English literature, history, and Western cultural expression: many allusions, phrases, and images derive from this translation. The value of this edition lies in being complete, free, and easy to search—suitable as a reference work to browse over time rather than a book to read straight through. Note that it has no modern annotations, introduction, or maps, and the archaic English and structure can be challenging for first-time readers. It is advisable to start with familiar books or Psalms, then use reliable background materials to expand; if used for writing or quotation, verify the specific chapter and edition.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who need the King James Version text for reference or quotation
Students and teachers studying English literature, history, and religious culture
Collectors who want a complete public-domain electronic Bible text
Advanced readers interested in the sources of Western cultural allusions

Not a good fit for

Beginners seeking an edition with modern annotations and introduction
General readers who find English difficult and need a Chinese parallel text
Casual readers who only want a quick overview of Bible stories

Reading tips

Do not read straight through in order; start with easier sections such as Psalms, Proverbs, or the Gospels.
Prepare a chapter index or reading plan and proceed by theme or book.
When encountering archaic expressions, guess from context first, then check key passages afterward.
If quoting, verify the specific chapter and verse numbers and the translation name to avoid mixing editions.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

How does this edition differ from modern English translations?

This is the electronic text of the 1611 King James Version, retaining archaic English forms with sentence structure and wording clearly different from modern translations. It has high literary value and great influence on allusions, but is more challenging for beginners; for easier understanding, read alongside a modern translation.

Without annotations, how should general readers begin?

It is best not to read from page one. Start with relatively independent parts such as Psalms, Proverbs, or the New Testament Gospels, use reliable Bible background materials or introductory articles, learn the historical context as you read, and gradually expand to other books.

Can it be used for quotation or writing reference?

Yes. The King James Version is a public-domain text often used in literary writing and academic quotation. When quoting, cite the translation name and specific chapter and verse, and verify the chapter numbers in the electronic text to avoid misquotation due to formatting differences.

Comments

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About the author

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Project Gutenberg is not a single author but a nonprofit digital library founded by Michael Hart in 1971 and one of the world's earliest free ebook platforms. It relies on volunteers to digitize, proofread, and freely distribute public-domain works and is now operated by the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Its collection contains 2,692 works, mainly religious texts, epics, and story collections, including the King James Bible and the Douay-Rheims volumes, the epic Mahabharata, a literal translation of the Arabian Nights, and Danish editions of the Old and New Testaments. Public information is limited, and its nature is closer to a public-interest compiling and dissemination body; these texts are open to the public, easy to consult and circulate, and have had a profound influence on the spread of ebooks and the preservation of public-domain resources.