Much of his turns of phrases and word creations (like the word "beautiful") have come into our language as a result of his translation - an effort that cost him his life, by burning at the stake, in 1536, because he dared to put the scriptures into the hands of the people, and in their own language.
Below is a well-known and popular section of the Gospel of Matthew, the Beatitudes. Tyndale, using the original Greek manuscripts known to him at the time, and previous English attempts at translation such as the Wycliffe version of the 1400s, puts his own stamp on this beautiful scene.
Much of what he wrote was used word-for-word by the compilers of the King James Version in 1611, 80 years later:
When he saw the people, he went up onto a hill. And when he was seated, his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying,
Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, because they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, because they will obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God.
Blessed are the maintainers of peace, because they will be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you, when men insult you, and pursue you, and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, and this is the way they persecuted the prophets before your time.
(Matthew 5:1-12 in the Abbott ePublishing Tyndale21 Version of the New Testament Gospels. Available exclusively at Abbott ePublishing Click for details.)
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